Californians need taxpayer protection now to deal with the higher cost of living.
With California’s soaring cost of living making daily life unaffordable, Californians cannot afford to continue to pay more and more in taxes with little to show for their hard-earned money.
California Has:
Highest Income Tax, State Sales Tax and Gas Taxes
California’s has some of the nation’s highest taxes which are contributing to the state’s soaring cost of living and stretching Californians’ budgets.
Highest Housing Prices
California’s housing prices are the highest in the continental US. On top of costly property tax surcharges, California’s development impact fees are nearly three times higher than the national average—making construction more expensive and driving up housing costs.
Highest Gasoline Prices
California’s gas prices are the highest in the US*—making trips to work, school or the grocery store much more costly than other states.
*As of August 2, 2023
It’s time to give voters the final decision on raising all state and local taxes so that they can protect themselves from an even higher cost of living.
Gives voters the final decision on any new and higher taxes
California has some of the nation’s highest state income, sales and gas taxes along with 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 gives Californians the final decision on any new or higher state taxes by requiring approval from a majority of statewide voters.
- 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.
Provides more accountability and 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
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:
- 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 Act 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.
California is becoming too expensive for working families and family businesses. We need to give Californians the final decision on raising their taxes and better accountability for how state and local governments spend their money. Now is the time to pass the Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act.”
