Jon Coupal: A measure to save Prop. 13 and protect you, the taxpayer

In 1978, Proposition 13 cut property taxes to one percent of the taxable value and capped increases to the taxable value to just two percent a year, with reassessment occurring only for new construction or when there is a change of ownership. It was a significant tax cut after years of inflation-driven tax hikes built up a surplus in Sacramento, while Californians were taxed out of their homes.

Howard Jarvis, the author of Prop. 13 and our organization’s namesake, added provisions to Proposition to prevent the tax “spenders” from finding new ways to take the same amount of money from the tax “payers.”

Prop. 13 requires a two-thirds vote in both houses of the state Legislature to pass new state taxes, and it also says a two-thirds vote is needed to pass local special taxes.

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