Collis, Jones for Equalization

Long one of the quieter reserves of California politics, the state Board of Equalization, has two contested seats in the November elections. The only elected board of its kind in the country, its members administer $22 billion in sales and business taxes, assess the property of public utilities and makes recommendations and regulations concerning the state tax code.

It is terribly important business, but hardly exciting. Reflecting this, board members usually keep low profiles.

Campaigning in the 2nd District in 1982, board member Conway Collis promised innovation, if not excitement. Collis, a Democrat, has made the board more accessible to taxpayers and initiated or supported a number of proposals to clear away the red tape that so often tangles tax disputes. One innovation, for example, shifted the burden of proof from taxpayers appealing their property tax assessments that saves appellants time and money. He pressed for legislation to protect taxpayers who have received board advice from any liability should that advice turn out wrong. And he was instrumental in passing the tax amnesty plan. NowCollis wants to give tax credits to businesses that provide employee child care, and modify the state income tax return to conform to the federal return to spare taxpayers a lot of paper work. In his time on the board, Collis has provided needed leadership and has earned reelection.

Republican L. Stanley Jones faces an uphill battle in his fight to replace the retiring Richard Nevins in the 4th District, but he is well qualified to administer tax law and we recommend his election. Jones is a Certified Public Account and a lawyer and for 23 years has been the elected treasurer of Inglewood. He is earnest, committed, and anxious to stir things up in tax law. Like Collis, Jones wants to merge the Board of Equalization and the Franchise Tax Board, which administers the income tax, to make them more efficient. Jones’ opponent, Sen. Paul Carpenter, has 12 years experience in the state Legislature, and is far better known, but he lacks Jones’ credentials in tax law.

Collis and Jones are knowledgeable men, both intent on making the Board of Equalization better at what it does. They deserve to win.