By Tim Redmond
Calitics reports this morning that the California Nurses Association is preparing a split-roll ballot initiative for 2010. The outline of the measure looks good, both in terms of impact (billions and billions in extra tax revenue for local government) and politics (a clear message to homeowners that this won’t raise their taxes). As Robert Cruickshank notes, the proposals would
• Tax commercial property at fair market value, and frequently reassess property taxes at fair market value (instead of locking in a value and rate, as Prop 13 currently does). The main difference between the two initiatives is how that reassessment is accomplished.
• Provide a small business exclusion of up to $1 million
• Double homeowners’ exemption from $7,000 to $14,000 (as a sweetener to voters)
It’s a clever approach, one that almost certainly polls well with voters, since the initiatives offer tax relief for residential owners and small businesses – making it crystal clear, at least in the initiative language, that this is NOT an attack on the sacred cow of residential property protections offered in Prop 13.
CNA has the money and the clout to get this going, and it could become one of the most important campaigns of the year. If the group goes forward — and I hope that happens — wafflers like Jerry Brown will have to take a stand, and tell us whether they’re with big business and commercial landlords or with the millions of Californians who are getting screwed by an unfair tax system and deep cuts in public services.