Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act
THE PROBLEM:
California has the largest tax burden of any state, and massive increases in taxes and fees are adding to the state’s sky-high cost of living.
THE SOLUTION:
The Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act. It’s time to give voters the right to vote on all state and local taxes.
2022: BY THE NUMBERS
With the cost of living skyrocketing, voters deserve the right to vote on all new taxes!
JOIN THE COALITION
GIVES VOTERS THE FINAL SAY ON ANY NEW AND HIGHER TAXES
California has some of the nation’s highest state income, sales and gas taxes as well as rising property and utility taxes. Yet still, the State Legislature has proposed billions in new taxes this year alone while local officials have enacted $8.8 billion in annual general and special taxes from 2010 to 2020.
The Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act:
- Increases voters’ voice on all statewide tax increases: The Act requires state legislation imposing any new or higher taxes to be approved by a majority of voters in a statewide election.
- Closes tax loophole at the local level: The Act will reinstate the two-thirds approval requirement for any new or higher “special taxes” proposed by initiative in a local election, while still maintaining the current majority vote requirement for general tax increases.
REQUIRES ACCOUNTABILITY & TRANSPARENCY
Voters want campaign promises kept when it comes to raising taxes — not bait-and-switch tactics designed to give state and local governments more money.
The Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act:
- Provides greater transparency for new tax proposals: The Act will require that the Legislature and local governments include a legally enforceable, specific designation on the ballot for the use of proposed special taxes, the tax rate and the period the tax would be in effect. The Act ensures that new tax dollars are dedicated to either a specific purpose or for general services for the duration of the tax, increasing budget certainty and predictability in the future.
MAINTAINS CURRENT REVENUE AND SPENDING
The measure is focused on returning control over tax increases to the hands of the voters while ensuring California can continue to address its most pressing issues.
The Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act:
- Makes no changes to current spending or revenue: All revenue, fees and other charges in effect as of January 1, 2022 are not affected by this measure. The measure requires any new or increased taxes passed after January 1, 2022 to conform to the measure, which is done to avoid further confusion or conflicts for new and higher revenue passed this year.