Bill Text: CA ACR60 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: The 35th anniversary of the enactment of Proposition 13.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-01-14 - In committee: Hearing postponed by committee. [ACR60 Detail]
Download: California-2013-ACR60-Introduced.html
BILL NUMBER: ACR 60 INTRODUCED
BILL TEXT
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Morrell
MAY 14, 2013
Relative to the 35th anniversary of Proposition 13.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
ACR 60, as introduced, Morrell. The 35th anniversary of the
enactment of Proposition 13.
This measure would commemorate June 6, 2013, as the 35th
anniversary of the approval of Proposition 13 by California voters.
Fiscal committee: no.
WHEREAS, On June 6, 1978, Proposition 13, officially titled the
"People's Initiative to Limit Property Taxation," was overwhelmingly
approved by California's voters, reducing property tax rates on
homes, businesses, and farms, and capping the rate of increase in the
future; and
WHEREAS, Prior to the adoption of Proposition 13, California's
raging inflation had sent property tax bills in California soaring so
high that many families had to sell their homes because they could
not afford to pay their taxes; and
WHEREAS, Prior to the adoption of Proposition 13, small business
owners facing fast increasing property taxes were forced to lay off
their employees or close their businesses if property tax increases
made their businesses unprofitable; and
WHEREAS, Prior to the adoption of Proposition 13, renters saw
their rents increase when landlords saw their property taxes increase
at a rapid rate; and
WHEREAS, With the passage of Proposition 13, taxpayers, for the
first time, were provided a measure of certainty with respect to
their property taxes; and
WHEREAS, In the 35 years following the passage of Proposition 13,
the average homeowner and the average small business have saved tens
of thousands of dollars annually in property tax payments, money that
was put back into the economy to create jobs and foster economic
development; and
WHEREAS, Since the passage of Proposition 13, proposed
alternatives to Proposition 13 would have had a variety of unwelcome
effects, including substantial tax increases for low-income and
elderly homeowners; and
WHEREAS, Increased property taxes would be a disincentive for
first-time homebuyers and stand as a barrier to growth of our housing
market; and
WHEREAS, Proposition 13 remains just as popular with voters today
as it was when it was approved, with numerous recent surveys citing
over 60 percent support; and
WHEREAS, Proposed alternatives to Proposition 13 that would
increase property taxes on California businesses would also affect
the ability of employers to hire or retain California employees; and
WHEREAS, Proposed alternatives to Proposition 13 would also
negatively affect renters who would see their rents increased if
their landlords experienced property tax increases; and
WHEREAS, Since the passage of Proposition 13, voters have
rejected, by wide margins, changes that would have businesses pay
property taxes at a higher rate than those imposed upon residential
owners, as evidenced by the defeat of Proposition 167 in 1992; and
WHEREAS, The volatility of income and sales tax revenue to the
state and local governments is a major flaw in California's tax
system; however, Proposition 13 has rendered California's property
taxes a stable and predictable source of public revenue even during
economic downturns and has provided a major benefit to local
governments in California; and
WHEREAS, Thursday, June 6, 2013, marks the 35th year following the
voters' approval of Proposition 13; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the Legislature, in recognition of the
impact Proposition 13 has had on the State of California, formally
commemorates June 6, 2013, as the 35th anniversary date of
Proposition 13; and be it further
Resolved, That the Legislature reaffirms its support for
Proposition 13 and the benefit that it provides to individual
homeowners and to the state's overall economy; and be it further
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of
this resolution to the Governor of the State of California, and to
the author for appropriate distribution.
