Proposition 13 works

Proposition 13 is the antithesis of wise property tax reform. Here's what wise property tax reform looks like: We remove all taxes from buildings, be they cottages or castles. We place our tax burden on land value, which can take it without being reduced by a penny. Under land value taxation, every landholder pays his share of the costs of providing community-provided services, which are a major contributor to those land values. Pay for what you get from the community -- and don't pay for what you individually have created through building or maintaining your home or other building.

LVTfan @ 6:26 PM PDT, Jun 4, 2008

This should be allowed in every state! Think of the heartache it would save on senior citizens who are on fixed income! At least, they would know what their taxes would be from year to year and be able to budget for them. God bless Howard Jarvis and we need another man to lead every state in a similar manner.

L.B. Petersen @ 7:32 PM PDT, Jun 3, 2008

Florida has something similar to Proposition 13, called Save Our Homes, which requires $50,000 be deducted from the assessed value of a primary residence (homestead) . The assessed value of a homesteaded property can only increase by CPI or 3%, whichever is lower. Businesses, second home owners, and investors don't have these benefits. Florida doesn't have a state income tax and operates on sales and property tax revenue. An amendment on November's ballot proposes to eliminate the portion of the property tax that goes to public schools, approximately 40% of the tax bill, and replace it with revenue from a sales tax.

Jennifer Wollmann @ 2:07 PM PDT, Jun 3, 2008

In 1977 property taxes were 2.7% of whatever your neighbor just sold thier house for. This re-assesment happened every 12 months. Seniors on fixed incomes who had paid off thier homes were forced to sell because of outragous property tax increases. Now we pay 1%. We can budget for our retirement. Prop 13 is totally fair because you know what your getting yourself into. Those jealous of thier neighbors taxes would be wise to remember the history. Sacramento would tax you out of your house when your old. if you let them. In regards to schools, more money is not the cure. Criminal prosecution for squandering billions would be a start.

Michael @ 12:29 PM PDT, Jun 3, 2008

Prop 13 set California on its continuing disastrous downhill course and led to the gutting of virtually all public services and the crippling of governments' ability to raise adequate revenue. It is now a very lopsided system where some pay too much while others pay too little. Plus it has fueled an irrational fear embodied in the dreaded word "taxes". The bottom line is that governments need money to run and provide services. Most don't have enough and won't ever have it under Prop. 13. The next time you need a policeman and he/she does not arrive on time because the dept. is down 30 officers, don't blame the mayor. Blame Prop. 13.

James Costello @ 11:36 AM PDT, Jun 3, 2008

Great. Stability for homeowners and businesses, but a long decline in school funding since then, from the top levels of state per pupil funding to way below average. Add to that the implementation of some of the highest academic standards in the country used in our standardized tests, and you have the reason for the condition of public schools. And other services. Prop 13 creates the illusion that you can live in Calif. without paying for good schools and services. Sure you can, and you end up paying for high prison populations, prison health care, etc. Brilliant if all you care about is your property taxes, I guess.

Scott @ 11:28 AM PDT, Jun 3, 2008

You must have owned your homes for some time and not moved. I live on a street where our taxes range from $4000 a year to over $18000 a year for the same home. We all pay a different price for the same city services. FOREVER. I don't think that Mr. Garvis envisioned the price of a home would tripple in10 years. The benefits of the Garvis initiative which your refer to are NOT supported in the likely situation where two individuals the same age purchase their homes 4 years apart and one pays more than twice the taxes as the other. We have a system where the tax dollars come from the most recent purchases of homes, not an equitable balance.

Ed Todeschini @ 9:42 AM PDT, Jun 3, 2008

The Jarvis folks love to preach the gospel of "predictability" as the main benefit of Prop 13. Let me translate that for everyone who purchased a home since 2003. For the "predictability" of those who have owned the same home since the 70's and 80's, you will be forced to subsidize all goods and services provided by local government because you will pay ten times the property tax that your neighbor does - for the same service! Brilliant...

A. Villanueva @ 9:11 AM PDT, Jun 3, 2008

When will the supporters of Prop 13 finally own up to how the initiative helped speed up the decline of California schools and destroyed mental health and other important programs? Property tax assessments were getting out of control back in the late 1970s but a surgeon's knife was needed to fix the system, not the meat cleaver called Prop 13. Just because income from property taxes are stable does not mean it is sufficient to fund important services.

Steven Allen @ 8:42 AM PDT, Jun 3, 2008

Having moved to CA in 2003 and not knowing the history, I have wondered about the wisdom of Prop 13. Having read both of these articles, and has a homeowner, I am persuaded more by the 2nd (rebuttal) article than the first. While there are always downsides to any tax laws, this one seems to work well.

KY Boy @ 7:35 AM PDT, Jun 3, 2008

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