SCR 25, as introduced, Wyland. 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.
P1 1WHEREAS, On June 6, 1978, Proposition 13, officially titled
2the “People’s Initiative to Limit Property Taxation,” and popularly
3known as the “Jarvis-Gann Initiative,” was overwhelmingly
4approved by California’s voters, reducing property tax rates on
5homes, businesses, and farms, and capping the rate of increase in
6the future; and
7WHEREAS, Prior to the adoption of Proposition 13, California’s
8raging inflation had sent property tax bills in California soaring
9so high that many families had to sell their homes because they
10could not afford to pay their taxes; and
11WHEREAS, Prior to the adoption of Proposition 13, property
12tax assessments showed wider divergences than assessment
13disparities under the current acquisition-value system; and
14WHEREAS, With the approval of Proposition 13, real property
15values were adjusted to a base value equal to the 1976 assessed
16value of that real property, thereby introducing an objective
17standard upon which real property would be taxed and ending the
P2 1previous subjective standard for assessment that engendered the
2property tax assessment abuses that occurred in the 1960s and
31970s; and
4WHEREAS, With the passage of Proposition 13, taxpayers, for
5the first time, were provided a measure of certainty with respect
6to their property taxes; and
7WHEREAS, In the 35 years following the passage of Proposition
813, the average homeowner has saved tens of thousands of dollars
9in property tax payments, money that, was able to be spent in the
10economy to create jobs and foster economic development; and
11WHEREAS, Since the passage of Proposition 13, proposed
12alternatives to Proposition 13 would have had a variety of
13unwelcome effects, including substantial tax increases for
14low-income and elderly homeowners; and
15WHEREAS, Since the passage of Proposition 13, voters’ 2-to-1
16rejection in 1992 of Proposition 167 suggests that the split roll
17alternative to the current system, in which business would pay
18property taxes at a rate higher than that imposed on residential
19properties, finds little favor with voters; and
20WHEREAS, Proposition 13 has become a nationwide symbol
21for taxpayer revolt and for citizens exercising control and power
22over their governance; and
23WHEREAS, Thursday, June 6, 2013, marks the 35th year
24following the voters’ approval of Proposition 13; now, therefore,
25be it
26Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
27thereof concurring, That the Legislature, in recognition of the
28impact Proposition 13 has had on the State of California, formally
29commemorates June 6, 2013, as the 35th anniversary date of
30Proposition 13; and be it further
31Resolved, That the Legislature reaffirm its support for
32Proposition 13 and the benefit that it provides to individual
33homeowners and to the state’s overall economy; and be it further
34Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of
35this resolution to the Governor of the State of California, and to
36the author for appropriate distribution.
O
99