Prop. 13 Reform Should Be On Sacramento’s Radar

By Gillian Garaci| SF Chronicle | January 10, 2024

Regarding “Helps home ownership” (Letters to the Editor, Jan. 8): Constantine Koutzoukis’ letter on Proposition 13 is short-sighted and self-centered. Let’s be real. The people who rant about repealing Prop 13 are exaggerating the likelihood. 

No one in Sacramento is talking about repealing Prop 13. The most recent effort to touch Prop 13 was in 2020 and would have only reassessed commercial properties annually.

If we reformed only the commercial side, an estimated $12 billion would be generated for California each year. And even this common-sense reform only received token support from our leaders in Sacramento.

We need to change how we view Prop 13 and remember this is a huge tax break for many homeowners and commercial property owners. We’re allowing this tax break to take away funding for important public resources — like, I don’t know, fire departments.