Update on Save Prop 13, and how to decode your property tax bill

California’s county tax collectors have sent out the first installment of property tax bills. But what are all those extra charges on them?

In addition to the tax bill of 1% of the assessed value of your property (the assessed value is probably much lower than the market value, thanks to Proposition 13), property tax bills typically have a list of extra charges for parcel taxes, bonds and fees.

Surprised?

What are those? Where did they come from? How long are they going to be on your bill?

The answer is: they came from voter-approved parcel taxes, bond debt and any other charges that voters okayed on past ballots.

It sure adds up, doesn’t it?

This is why the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association needs your signature on the petition to put the Local Taxpayer Protection Act to Save Proposition 13 on the ballot. It will close a loophole that made it easier to pass taxes like these. According to Proposition 13 (now in the state constitution), taxes for a special purpose need a two-thirds vote of the local electorate to pass. But according to the court-created loophole, they don’t need a two-thirds vote if the tax increase came from a “citizens’ initiative.”

In reality, these “citizens’ initiative tax increases” come from special interests that write the tax increase and direct the money to themselves. Then they collect signatures to put it on the ballot and they don’t have to meet the two-thirds vote threshold. A simple majority is enough, the courts in California have ruled.

How many more taxes will be on your property tax bill next year after these “citizens’ initiative tax increases” are rushed to the ballot and squeak through with a simple majority vote?

That’s why you should go to SaveProp13.com and get the petition today.

If you’ve already signed the petition (thank you!) please print some extra copies and give them to friends, family and neighbors. You can be the “circulator,” which means you witness the signature and fill out and sign the “declaration of circulator” at the bottom of the petition. If the declaration is left blank, the signatures won’t count. Any voter who signs the petition can also be the circulator of the same petition they sign. Please remind them to fill out and sign the declaration before mailing it back to the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association.

Could property tax postponement be right for you?

If you’re facing a property tax bill that you can’t pay right now, the State Controller’s Property Tax Postponement program may be able to help. Qualifying property owners may be able to postpone payment of a current property tax bill with what is essentially a loan secured by the property. The annual application period opened on October 1 and closes on February 10. You can find more information and the application form here: https://sco.ca.gov/ardtax_prop_tax_postponement.html

Property taxes are due on November 1 and become delinquent at the close of business on December 10. (Property tax postponement is not available for delinquent taxes.)

HJTA President Jon Coupal on the Shane Reaction

Jon Coupal joined KFBK News Radio’s Sam Shane on the Shane Reaction show to talk about the Local Taxpayer Protection Act to Save Proposition 13. Listen to it here.

Don’t forget to vote

All active registered voters in California should have received a mail ballot for the November 4 special election. There is one measure on the statewide ballot, Proposition 50. A “yes” vote means that for the next three election cycles you want to throw out the maps for congressional districts that were drawn by California’s independent Citizens Redistricting Commission and replace them with maps drawn by politicians to benefit one political party. A “no” vote means you want to reject the politicians’ maps and keep the current maps that were drawn by the citizens’ commission.

The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association recommends a vote of “No” on Proposition 50. More information here.

For background: There are a total of 435 seats in the U.S. Congress. Every ten years, following the U.S. Census, the seats are apportioned to the states based on their population. Then each state draws the district maps of the areas that each Member of Congress will represent. States draw these maps according to their own laws and in compliance with federal laws and court decisions.

Please mail back your signed petitions. Don’t wait!

If you have signed the petition to Save Prop. 13 or are collecting signatures from other voters, thank you! Please mail the petitions back as soon as possible. The address is: Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, 1201 K Street, Suite 1030, Sacramento, CA 95814.

Another way to help is by supporting the campaign. You can do that here. Thank you for saving Proposition 13 and protecting California taxpayers!

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