Question #4: (Submitted October 26, 2025)
According to Jon Croupal, President of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association (HJTA), “In 1978, Proposition 13 cut property taxes to one percent of the taxable value and capped increases 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.”
Since that time local and state governments have tried repeatedly to undue Prop 13, unsuccessfully. However, home prices have increased dramatically thus giving a windfall profit each time a home is sold or built. The 1 percent tax in 1978 of the taxable value is is far less than the 1 percent tax based of the taxable value of 2025. The amount of tax has increased exponentially since 1978 and still lawmakers want more. One question today may be, due to the much higher tax collected where is the money? Since home prices are over 1,500 percent higher than 1978, perhaps the 1 percent tax on the taxable value should be reduced to ½ percent with annual increases limited to only ½ percent.
Currently there is an effort to collect signatures in support of a measure to protect Prop 13, which is supported by HJTA.
Q4: As governor, would you support this current measure to protect Prop 13, and would you support modifying the measure to cut the tax rate to ½ percent of the taxable value with increases limited to ½ percent annually?
Q4-Answers-From-Politicians-Regarding-Prop-13-2point0