Taxpayers Say ‘No Mas’
A just-released survey by Probolsky Research shows that most California voters now oppose new or increased local taxes. A majority, 55.5%, would vote “no” on a local measure that would increase taxes in order to maintain service levels, while only 34.8% would vote “yes.” Admittedly, a poll is just a snapshot of attitudes during a […]
Playing the Bond Game, Taxpayers Lose
A recent front page story in the Los Angeles Times raised the curtain on a dirty little secret that local school officials don’t want the public to know. Many school boards throughout California have indulged in a process that can best be described as “bribery and money laundering” which grossly inflates the cost of bond debt — […]
Prop. 13 Has Something for Everybody
This Thursday, the 6th of June, the Western democracies will commemorate the Normandy invasion that marked the beginning of the end of Fascist tyranny in Europe. On the same date, Californians will also celebrate a second liberation, the passage of Proposition 13 which 35 years ago reined in the onerous property tax system and made […]
Don’t Leave ‘Em with Two Nickels to Rub Together
In a bunker somewhere in Sacramento, a secret committee meeting of state power brokers is taking place. Let’s listen in as the chairman addresses the members: “Welcome to this week’s meeting of the ‘Don’t Leave Them With Two Nickels to Rub Together Committee’ It is good to see that the public employee union bosses, who […]
The Ongoing War on Working Folks
Why is it that the political party that once proudly declared that it stood for working people is now laboring so hard to cost those Californians who are still working their jobs? The Democratic party so dominates the Legislature and all constitutional offices, that Republicans almost need a passport to enter Sacramento. One would think […]
The Bill Has Come Due
Expect to hear a lot more pronouncements from state and local government officials about the need for tax increases, cuts to public services, or both. CalPERS, the huge pension fund that serves most California government employees, has announced it is raising its rates, a move that will cost employers — taxpayers that is — up […]
Enemies of Prop. 13 Make Clear their Intentions
It is fitting that on Tax Day, April 15th, those who seek to destroy Proposition 13 have now revealed their intentions. We already knew about all the bills currently pending in the California Legislature that would weaken Proposition 13, either by lowering the two-thirds vote for most local taxes or by taking away Proposition 13’s […]
More Devilish Legislation Out of Sacramento
The Sacramento politicians are planning a costly attack on drivers’ wallets by changing the way some traffic violations are defined. Generally, the public accepts the need for parking enforcement. The threat of a fine for those who overstay their allotted time helps to make sure that limited parking spaces are available to all who want […]
New Poll Shows Majority of California Voters Oppose Lowering Parcel Tax Voting Threshold
The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association released a new poll that shows the majority of California voters oppose lowering the voting requirement for local per parcel property taxes from two-thirds to 55%. More than 53% of voters oppose the change, and only 35% support the change. Approximately 11% were undecided. Moreover, a majority of those against […]
Of Obesity, Bridges and Peanuts
Have California school officials found their own bizarre way to support Michelle Obama’s campaign against childhood obesity? What else could possibly explain their skimming of at least $170 million — and possibly much more — from federal funds supplied to provide nutritional lunches to the state’s poorest children? The just-released findings by state auditors show […]