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Governor Uses State of the State Speech to Reiterate Call for Tax IncreasesIn the second State of the State Address of his current term, Governor Jerry Brown on January 18 touted his tax increase initiative and budget cuts, saying, "Neither is popular, but both must be done." Although the governor's budget proposal calls for a 7 percent increase in expenditures, he said he is "determined to press ahead … with substantial budget cuts." Read more California Lost 947,000 Jobs In Five-Year PeriodFrom 2006 to 2011, California lost approximately 947,000 jobs – more than any other state in the country – according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This represents a drop of 6.26 percent of the state's jobs, the Sacramento Business Journal reported. Nearly Half of Higher-Ed Students Have Fees Waived Or Paid With GrantsWith the debate about recent higher education tuition increases raging, a new report from the Legislative Analyst's Office concludes that "nearly half of all undergraduates at California's public colleges and universities receive grants or waivers that fully cover education fees." L.A. County Saved Millions By Focusing on EfficiencyEver dollar of waste that can be eliminated is like a dollar of new revenue, without the need for tax increases. Los Angeles County announced that it has saved $218 million since early 2009 by focusing on eliminating waste and improving efficiency. Changes included everything from buying better light bulbs and disconnecting unused phone lines to improving management of a county-run health program. Read more Success of 49ers Should Increase Tax RevenueThe success of the San Francisco 49ers football team – not foreseen by most football experts when the season began last year – likely will add significantly to state and local tax coffers. Read more Delays Cost Los Angeles $23.1 Million in RevenueLos Angeles City Controller Wendy Greuel reports 12 that untimely approval of permits by the city's Bureau of Street Services for advertising on "street furniture" (bus stops, newsstands, public toilets, etc.) led to $23.1 million in lost financial opportunity for the city. She also warns that an additional $57 million could be lost if city officials do not work to resolve outstanding issues. Read more When Are Restaurant Tips Subject to Sales Tax?Restaurant tips were at the center of two sales tax appeals heard by the State Board of Equalization during recent meetings. While most diners consider tips a reward for service, the BOE maintains that suggested tips added to a restaurant bill are part of the selling price of a meal, and therefore are subject to sales tax. This is the case even if the tip can be changed by the diner, according to the BOE's regulation. Read more California's Public Employee Pension Plans Face Shortfall Of $500 Billion, Study SaysThe pension plans for California's government workers face long-term shortfalls as high as $500 billion, according to a study by the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research. Read more Poll: Voters Overwhelmingly Support Proposition 13A new Field Poll shows that Proposition 13 remains as popular with California voters as it did when it passed in a landslide in 1978. CalTax President Teresa Casazza said: "Voters understand that Proposition 13 is the right policy choice for California." Read more
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Dan Walters: Unemployment Tax Increase LoomsColumnist Dan Walters of The Sacramento Bee writes: "Capitol politicians … will wrestle with a hefty increase in payroll taxes on employers to prop up the insolvent Unemployment Insurance Fund." Read more Will "Soak the Rich" Tax Policy Encourage Wealthy Taxpayers to Relocate?Will the threat of new soak-the-rich proposals accelerate the migration of wealthy taxpayers out of California, and what effect would this have on state revenue? How many high-income California taxpayers would have to move out of the state for the soak-the-rich proposal to be unproductive? Read more CalTax Fact Sheet: Split Roll Initiative Would Devastate California's EconomyA recently filed "split roll" property tax initiative would undo Proposition 13 protections for businesses in California, bringing back an unpredictable method of assessing property taxes and dramatically raising taxes on employers, making it even harder for small businesses to survive. Read more CalTax Study Finds No Evidence of Shift in Property Tax BurdenCalTax research, based on statistics from the Board of Equalization, shows that there is no evidence that the property tax burden has shifted from business and non-homeowner property subject to Proposition 13 to homeowners. Proposition 13 also made the property tax stable and predictable for property owners. Read more What Proposition 13 DidProposition 13 set a maximum rate for the property tax, and removed guesswork, opinion and chance from the determination of a property's assessed value — the value upon which the tax rate is levied. Read more Dan Walters: Data Differ Greatly in California Property Tax DebateColumnist Dan Walters of The Sacramento Bee discusses CalTax’s property tax research, which found that under Proposition 13, property taxes on business and non-homeowner property have increased slightly faster than taxes on owner-occupied homes. Read more CalTax Voting Record for the 2011 Legislative SessionThe California Taxpayers Association has released its 2011 Voting Record, providing Californians with an important measurement of how their representatives in the Legislature acted on major tax and fiscal legislation. Read more Sales Tax on Services: A Disservice to CaliforniaProposals to tax services (advertising, babysitting, car-washing, painting, etc.) raise many concerns for taxpayers. This CalTax paper explains some of the negative impacts a services tax would have on Californians. Gina Rodriquez: With 2.1 Million Californians Out of Work, a Property Tax Increase Is the Last Thing We NeedEfforts to undo Proposition 13's property tax protections are getting more attention. The biggest threat is AB 448, which would take a big step toward this goal by repealing Proposition 13 protections for employers, even as the state struggles with a 12 percent unemployment rate. Read more CalTax Fact Sheet on Expansion of Local Taxing AuthorityEarlier this year, a legislative proposal sought to dramatically alter California's tax structure by significantly expanding new taxing authority to counties, school districts, community college districts and county offices of education. Click here to read CalTax's fact sheet on the proposal. Government Can Improve Efficiency and Save Billions, CalTax ReportsA new CalTax Research Bulletin finds that state and local government can save more than $3.4 billion by improving efficiencies and reducing fraud. "Making Government Work – How California Can Improve Efficiency and Reduce Fraud" uses audits and other documents released in 2010. CalTax Research Bulletin:Tax Policy Decisions and the California EconomyGood tax policy improves the economy and provides equity among taxpayers. Tax incentives can be designed to create a better climate for entrepreneurs, innovators and job seekers. Other tax policies can be effective tools for providing equity to taxpayers. Read the full Research Bulletin
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Broad-Based Tax Measures Proposed for NovemberClick here for a quick-reference guide to the broad-based tax initiatives that have been proposed for the November 2012 general election ballot.
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CalTax Research Bulletin: State Has Wasted $18.9 Billion
California's Tax Machine: Invaluable Resource on State's Tax PolicyThe California Taxpayers Association is a non-partisan, non-profit organization founded in 1926 to protect taxpayers from unnecessary taxes and to promote government efficiency. We serve our members through research and advocacy on significant tax and spending issues in the legislative, executive and judicial branches of government. Learn more about CalTax
Your Help Is Needed
To Stop Excessive Government Spending
In November, Californians will have an opportunity to bring discipline to the state government's use of our tax dollars, so we won't have to keep going through boom-and-bust cycles that result in budget deficits and pressure for higher taxes.
CalTax, the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and the Small Business Action Committee recently introduced an initiative to keep the Legislature from approving excessive spending, and to allow the government to grow.
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For more information about CalTax or this website, send a message to Karl Hirai.