Rain collection tax break to be on Tuesday’s ballot

When California voters go to the polls next Tuesday they will have the opportunity to vote on Prop 72, which if passed will eliminate the property tax increase for homeowners who install rain water systems.

Prop 72 is a push to increase water conservation in California and would exclude rainwater capture systems added to properties after Jan. 1, 2019 from property tax reassessments. The proposition derived from SB 558 which was introduced by Sen. Steven Glazer (D-Orinda). The bill unanimously received bipartisan support in both the senate and assembly, and Gov. Jerry Brown signed the bill into law back in January. However, Californians will have to vote yes to Prop 72 on June 5 in order for the bill to go into effect.

The proposition has had little to no opposition and has garnered support from several organizations including the California Democratic Party, Save the Bay, the Planning and Conservation League and the League of California Cities.

Local officials, water conservation experts and real estate professionals believe that Prop 72 could be a positive for California if passed and are unopposed to the measure.

“Water is a very precious resource in California, and we should be doing things to incentivize people to use water wisely,” Lodi City Manager Steve Schwabauer said. “I won’t comment on whether using tax policy is the right way to do that or not, but I’m in full support of the sentiment that we need to encourage people to use water wisely in a state where water is extraordinarily precious and becoming more so.”

Lodi Public Works Director Charlie Swimley explained that Lodi is already making efforts to conserve rain water.

“I think Prop 72 could have some benefits if it passes,” he said. “From a water conservation standpoint the city does encourage rain barrels, and we have a rebate program for that, but anything larger than a rain barrel, that would actually qualify for a rainwater capture system. That would be something we haven’t encountered yet.”

Lodi Watershed Program Coordinator Kathy Grant was also in favor of Prop 72.

“Anything we Californians can do to help conserve water by capturing rainfall runoff and/or otherwise begin to see storm water as a valuable resource, should be encouraged,” she said.

Grant sees the proposition as a way to keep people from being penalized for conserving water.

“It’s about capturing rain water that would otherwise be running down the street disappearing from our communities, so if we could figure out a way to do that and encourage people to do that it’s good for California,” Grant said.

Lodi Planning Commission member Steve Hennecke, who also serves as president of the Lodi Association of Realtors, said he was in favor of Prop 72 when it came to its impact on real estate but pointed out potential negative effects for municipalities.

“Statewide it’s probably a good thing because it allows people to capture rain water to use for irrigation and stuff around their properties but doesn’t raise the taxable value of their properties, so it keeps housing affordable,” he said. “On the flip side that means less money to municipalities because they of course live on property taxes and permitting.”