SACRAMENTO, Calif. – A “wide coalition of organizations, community leaders and individuals” wants to split California’s property tax rolls to swell the state’s coffers.

The group, called Make It Fair, seeks to “make California’s tax code fair to all by phasing out loopholes in Prop. 13 that have allowed a handful of giant corporations and America’s wealthiest commercial property owners to dramatically lower their obligations to California families.”

According to a study by researchers at the University of Southern California, the change would raise an additional $8.2 billion to $10.2 billion annually.

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That’s their story. You might want to be aware of a few more details.

The “wide coalition” is a handful of public employees’ unions and other tax-exempt organizations, including the California Teachers Association, California Federation of Teachers and United Teachers Los Angeles.

It commissioned the USC study it cites and although the unions want you to think their measure only targets the super-rich, the revenue estimate was based on increasing the taxes of all commercial property, which would include the bodega down the street or your dentist’s office.

What isn’t clear from any communication or posting by Make It Fair is whether the unions or advocacy groups involved would be exempt from any property reassessment.

The California Teachers Association, for example, benefits as much as anyone from low property taxes in California. Last year the union paid just over $265,000 in property tax on its headquarters building in Burlingame, the assessed value of which is almost $22.4 million. CTA’s property taxes have increased a total of only $40,000 over the last 11 years.

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Unlike California’s giant corporations and wealthy property owners, CTA is able to collect approximately $185 million in annual income without paying a dime of corporate franchise or income tax. It then uses the bulk of that tax-exempt income to leverage more income for itself by taxing others at increased rates.

By all means, let’s make it fair.

Published with permission