06.12.09: California Association of Realtors Opposes 55% School Parcel Tax Legislation
By David Walrath
On June 11, the Senate Committee on Elections, Reapportionment and Constitutional Amendments passed the SSDA-supported Senate Constitutional Amendment 6 by Senator Simitian. The Committee passed SCA 6 over the express opposition from the California Association of Realtors. The opposition was based on: 1) SCA 6 complies with the Proposition 13 requirement for a tax that was equal per parcel; and 2) it would change the Proposition 13 requirement that parcel taxes be passed with a 2/3 vote.
To say the testimony was a “heads you lose, tails I win” trying to have it both ways contradictory statement is an understatement. If any of your school board members are also members of the California Association of Realtors (CAR), now is a good time to ask why does CAR oppose giving the state’s voters the opportunity to decide if they want to allow local voters to pass school parcel taxes with a 55 percent supermajority vote? What is CAR afraid the voters might do – support schools?
