39: Easier Tax Hikes, Local Decision-Making

* Re “Cutting Through the Campaign Fog Obscuring Prop. 39,” Oct. 30:

George Skelton and those wonderfully altruistic “Silicon Valley high-tech moguls” behind Prop. 39 think it should be easier for school districts to force higher property taxes on every California homeowner. But shouldn’t a proposition to scrap an existing law requiring two-thirds of voters to approve of tax increases be required to pass by at least a two-thirds majority itself?

Allowing as few as 50.1% of voters to decree that future tax hikes can be rammed through with only 55% approval is not only morally wrong, it is criminally absurd.

If the public pickpockets pushing Prop. 39 try to enact this massive tax hike with less than a 66% majority, I hope that a more Libertarian-minded mogul will step forward to bankroll a Supreme Court fight against it. Otherwise, all of us fed-up, taxed-to-death, middle-class non-moguls will get stuck with flushing away more of our money in taxes again.

JAMES DAWSON

Woodland Hills

*

If Skelton is going to encourage people to vote to have their property taxes raised he should tell the truth. He said the average property owner will see taxes raised a maximum of $100, but he didn’t finish the sentence. It will raise property taxes a maximum of $100 per bond [issue approved]. Good bonds pass.

MARCY RUFFALO

Redlands

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“School Bond Measure in Tight Race” (Oct. 24) proves that every vote will count in this upcoming Nov. 7 election. The future of local school funding is at stake. Our education system, at all levels, is stretched to the limit.

Prop. 39 puts decision-making in the hands of communities, where it belongs, while at the same time implementing strict new guidelines on how school districts can spend local bond funds.

The quality of K-12 education is inextricably linked to success in higher education. Alleviating overcrowded and inadequate classrooms will provide a better learning environment for our children and prepare them for future achievement at California’s universities and colleges.

Make your vote count. Vote yes on Prop. 39.

RICHARD WEST, Chairman

Californians for Higher

Education, Long Beach