It’s time to face Prop. 13’s equity problem

California’s Proposition 13 has caused huge disparities in equity during its 40+ years of existence. Wealthy landlords and large corporations benefit from tax loopholes that allow them to avoid paying their fair share of property taxes, leading to a dearth of funding for California schools and communities. This means that those who have the most benefit the most while those that have the least suffer the consequences. On top of that, wealthier communities are able to subsidize their public services through parcel taxes, bond measures, and private funds, while low-income communities are left to make do with whatever existing property taxes or state funding can provide. 

The result? Wealthier neighborhoods have better-funded schools and public services, like fire departments, road repair, and parks. We cannot ignore the racial inequity this creates. Wealthier communities tend to be whiter, so low-income communities of color are forced to send their children to poorly-funded public schools on worse roads with fewer resources. Closing the corporate loophole in Prop. 13 and making large corporations pay their fair share will restore billions of dollars to our schools and communities. This will be a huge step forward in addressing California’s growing inequity.

SF Chronicle

Is California’s Prop. 13 racist? Homeowners in white neighborhoods of one city may get triple the tax benefit.

By Lauren Hepler, SF Chronicle | 2/16/2022