public opinion poll:
Californians Overwhelmingly Support Proposition 13

A new Field Poll shows that Proposition 13 remains almost as popular with California voters as it did when it passed in a landslide in 1978.

The poll found that 63 percent of the voters would endorse the measure if it were up for a vote again today. The property tax relief initiative was approved by 65 percent of the voters 33 years ago.

CalTax President Teresa Casazza said: "Voters understand that Proposition 13 is the right policy choice for California. Critics have been blaming this initiative for every conceivable problem since the day it passed, but these attacks are out of step with the public's experience, which is that Proposition 13 corrected long-standing problems with the property tax system, and has been good for our state."

The pollster reported: "Support for Prop. 13 is broad-based. Majorities of voters within each political party back the measure, as do renters and homeowners, including both recent homebuyers as well as long-term homeowners."

Voters also reject the idea of a split roll property tax that would repeal Proposition 13 protections for non-residential property – the poll found 50 percent opposed to a split roll, and just 41 percent in support.

"This represents stronger opposition to a split roll property tax than in any previous Field Poll conducted since Prop. 13 was approved," the poll report noted.

Voters agree with CalTax that a split roll would be devastating to the economy and would drastically increase unemployment in California.

A majority of voters also oppose changing Proposition 13 to let the state Legislature increase taxes either by a simple majority vote or a 55 percent majority vote, rather than the two-thirds threshold now required, the poll found. (Source: The Field Poll, September 23.)

September 23, 2011
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