Proposition 15: myths versus facts

MYTH: Schools first. FACT: Prop. 15 places administrative funding and local governments ahead of schools. Prop 15 also states schools will only receive additional property tax revenue equal to the district’s existing share. New revenue won’t reach each county equally. Rural counties with few commercial properties will be at a disadvantage and may even lose some funding. Commercial properties will be reassessed every three years, and every time there is new ownership. Given that, there is no way to predict how much money will trickle down to Butte County schools. The California Assessors’ Association opposes Prop. 15 because it will be “impossible to administer” and “some counties would lose revenue.”

MYTH: Small businesses and consumers won’t be affected. FACT: According to the National Federation of Independent Business 78% of small businesses rent property on which they operate. Increases in property taxes will be passed to the owner by their landlord. The owner has no recourse but to pass those on to the consumer.

MYTH: Prop. 15 exempts agriculture. FACT: Bare dirt is exempt but not fixtures and improvements: i.e. barns, dairies, processing plants, mature fruit and nut trees. Consumers can expect to see increases in just about everything produced by California farmers. The California Farm Bureau Federation opposes Prop. 15.

MYTH: Prop 15 exempts commercial properties worth $3 million or less. FACT: That is an aggregate amount. If one entity owns several properties that total $3 million all properties will be subject to Prop. 15.

Prop 15 is full of myths.

Know the facts. Don’t be deceived. Vote no on Prop. 15.

— Jennie DuBose, Chico