Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Will Prop. 13 Tax Revision Help or Hurt Central Valley? Leaders Debate.
David Website Replacement
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 4 years ago on
August 27, 2020

Share

Central Valley leaders are taking sides on Proposition 15, the initiative to roll back some of the property tax protections provided by the famous Prop. 13 of 1978.

Supporters say Prop. 15 will close a loophole in the tax system and help schools and communities. Opponents say it is a Sacramento money grab.

“We know that our schools have been devastated now, especially with the pandemic,” Yes on 15 campaign supporter and legendary labor rights activist Dolores Huerta said in a Zoom teleconference with media.

“We need that funding. We want it to come from the people that have the wherewithal — that they have the money to pay their taxes. And now it’s time to join with the rest of us.”

Prop. 13, the revolutionary anti-tax measure, capped the increase on property taxes to 1% a year, among other things.

Unlike Prop. 13, This Calls for Split Roll Tax

If voters approve the initiative on Nov. 3, protections on the tax hikes on business properties will be removed. Home properties will remain protected. The system is known as “split roll.”

Commercial properties would be taxed based on market value. A state analysis estimates it would raise up to $12 billion in revenue. Supporters say it would mean $145 million for the Central Valley.

The state would receive the first cut of revenues generated to “supplement decreases in revenue from the state’s personal income tax and corporation tax due to increased tax deductions,” according to the attorney general’s analysis.

The remainder would be split, with 60% funding local governments and 40% to schools.

Supporters: Justice and Equity

“We need that funding. We want it to come from the people that have the wherewithal — that they have the money to pay their taxes. And now it’s time to join with the rest of us.” — Yes on 15’s Dolores Huerta

Three local school board members, Veva Islas with Fresno Unified, Daren Miller with the Fresno County Board of Education, and Deep Singh with Central Unified all made similar arguments — Prop. 15 will help fund schools and the community.

“This would allow reinvestments to low-income communities and communities of color,” Islas said. “We have had too much disadvantage.”

Islas said Prop. 15 would alleviate the “burden” that communities have seen from COVID-19, racial injustice, and wildfires.

Proposition 15 supporters say the added funding from commercial property taxes will alleviate the burden on communities created by COVID-19, wildfires, and economic inequality. (The Salinas Californian/David Rodriguez)

Prop. 15 Will Hurt Consumers, Olivier Says

Clint Olivier, the former Fresno city councilman now executive director of the BizFed Central Valley, says the proposition’s passage would hurt consumers.

“The people who are being taxed do not just shrug it off and say, oh well, we’re being taxed more. They have to raise prices,” Olivier said. “In this case, it will be the leases for their (business) tenants who will consequently not eat the cost of the new taxes, but will pass those costs on to their customers.”

Olivier said the proposition was written pre-COVID, when California’s economy was zooming. But, with the pandemic and its economic unknowns, now is the wrong time for a tax, he said.

Miller says it is fair to propose a new tax now.

“(Corporations) are utilizing our equity from our educational systems for the students to come out and work for them. They’re using our roads. They’re using our police and safety services. We’re just asking them to pay their fair share at the same time that we do,” Miller said.

Olivier is skeptical about the government’s ability to wisely use tax revenues: “They always want more.”

Disagreement on Effect on Ag Industry

Portrait of Fresno County Farm Bureau CEO Ryan Jacobsen

“The proponents of the measure are being very misleading. It makes it look like ag’s not affected. But we are dramatically affected with the proposal.” — Ryan Jacobsen, CEO Fresno County Farm Bureau

Huerta emphasized that Prop. 15 would exempt commercial agriculture property. But several of the state’s farm bureaus have publicly opposed the measure.

“I’m assuming that some of the agricultural organizations that are against Proposition 15 were also against … the right to organize, they were against unemployment insurance. They were against the disability insurance for farmworkers. They were against laws for child labor. And, so I don’t know what their reasoning is. I would have to speak to them individually. But unfortunately, they’re often on the wrong side of progress,” Huerta said.

Fresno County Farm Bureau CEO Ryan Jacobsen disagreed on how the revisions would affect farming. He says “anything beyond the dirt” would be subject to a tax increase including barns, dairies, wineries, processing plants, vineyards, and orchards.

The proponents of the measure are being very misleading. It makes it look like ag’s not affected. But we are dramatically affected with the proposal,” Jacobsen said.

Jacobsen is also concerned Prop. 15 might incentivize local governments to rezone ag land into commercial or industrial spaces.

Photo of juicy oranges on a tree against a blue sky
Proposition 15 opponents say that it will burden growers with higher taxes and could lead to ag land being rezoned for intensive commercial uses. (Shutterstock)

Ballot Title Battle

There is controversy over Prop. 15’s ballot title: “Tax on Commercial and Industrial Properties for Education and Local Government Funding Initiative.”

The No on 15 campaign sued state Attorney General Xavier Becerra — who writes the ballot titles — saying what will appear in front of voters is unfair.

The opponents did not prevail, but the case is under appeal.

“They are fiddling with the English language to make this appear to voters as a mechanism to better fund schools. It’s always about the children. It’s always about the kids. But the reality is, it has nothing to do with that. This is a money grab. By the elites in Sacramento,” Olivier said.

DON'T MISS

From Blue Cheese to Bacon: Peanut Butter Pairings That Will Shock You

DON'T MISS

Challengers Seek Seats on Tulare County Irrigation District Boards

DON'T MISS

Shy Pup Finds Hope with Foster Family, Evasion from Euthanasia

DON'T MISS

Does Dill Have Magical Powers? What People Once Believed Food Could Do

DON'T MISS

Let’s Keep Innovative Partnerships Crucial to Combating Climate Change: Fresno Dairy Manager

DON'T MISS

Immediate Threat: Mussel Invades California’s Delta, First Time in North America

DON'T MISS

Two-Time Cy Young Winner Blake Snell Opts Out of Contract with Giants

DON'T MISS

No Matter the Outcome, We Are the True Losers of This Election

DON'T MISS

Russia’s Swift March Forward in Ukraine’s East

DON'T MISS

Rapper Young Thug Is a Free Man. Here Are Things to Know About His Plea.

UP NEXT

What Kind of Trouble Is Miguel Arias Trying to Stir Up This Time?

UP NEXT

Lyft Pays $2.1 Million to Settle Case Alleging the Ride-Hailing Service Deceived Drivers

UP NEXT

Pennsylvania Challenge of Elon Musk’s $1M-a-Day Voter Sweepstakes Moves to Federal Court

UP NEXT

Southern California County Official Pleads Guilty to Bribery Charge in COVID Funds Scheme

UP NEXT

Visalia Rollerblader Suffered Major Injuries After Being Struck by Vehicle

UP NEXT

Local Candidates Make Final Pitches at Fresno Hispanic Foundation Event

UP NEXT

Fresno County Man Indicted for Possessing Stolen Guns

UP NEXT

MAGA Hats OK at Polls, but Electioneering Is Strictly Prohibited

UP NEXT

Anti-Semitic Incident at Oakland Cafe Raises Concerns About Rising Intolerance

UP NEXT

US Imposes Sanctions on Top Members of the Armed Wing of a Mexican Fentanyl-Trafficking Cartel

David Taub,
Senior Reporter
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email

Does Dill Have Magical Powers? What People Once Believed Food Could Do

7 hours ago

Let’s Keep Innovative Partnerships Crucial to Combating Climate Change: Fresno Dairy Manager

8 hours ago

Immediate Threat: Mussel Invades California’s Delta, First Time in North America

20 hours ago

Two-Time Cy Young Winner Blake Snell Opts Out of Contract with Giants

20 hours ago

No Matter the Outcome, We Are the True Losers of This Election

21 hours ago

Russia’s Swift March Forward in Ukraine’s East

21 hours ago

Rapper Young Thug Is a Free Man. Here Are Things to Know About His Plea.

21 hours ago

AMOR Wellness Trunk-or-Treat Brings 700 Mendota Residents Together for Halloween Fun

21 hours ago

What Kind of Trouble Is Miguel Arias Trying to Stir Up This Time?

21 hours ago

MrBeast Probe Ends With Some Employees Fired but Finds No Proof of Sexual Misconduct Allegations

22 hours ago

From Blue Cheese to Bacon: Peanut Butter Pairings That Will Shock You

Peanut butter is a childhood staple for many in the United States. Whether it’s a classic PB&J sandwich, a fluffernutter, cookies ...

6 hours ago

6 hours ago

From Blue Cheese to Bacon: Peanut Butter Pairings That Will Shock You

6 hours ago

Challengers Seek Seats on Tulare County Irrigation District Boards

6 hours ago

Shy Pup Finds Hope with Foster Family, Evasion from Euthanasia

7 hours ago

Does Dill Have Magical Powers? What People Once Believed Food Could Do

8 hours ago

Let’s Keep Innovative Partnerships Crucial to Combating Climate Change: Fresno Dairy Manager

20 hours ago

Immediate Threat: Mussel Invades California’s Delta, First Time in North America

20 hours ago

Two-Time Cy Young Winner Blake Snell Opts Out of Contract with Giants

21 hours ago

No Matter the Outcome, We Are the True Losers of This Election

Search

Send this to a friend