We had a Prop 13 challenge in 2020 called Prop 15. The idea was to "split" the way Prop 13 works so that homeowners would still have Prop 13, but commercial properties would not (after a phase in of 5 years or something). It was rejected 52-48 in a historical voter turnout election.
I was surprised it failed, but it cemented the idea for me that Prop 13 is untouchable.
That was an extremely evil proposition, and would have put me and many other small businesses out of business. You see, big companies like Apple get to negotiate with their local governments for commercial property tax rates, but small businesses are paying full list price. Adobe, for example, is paying almost no property tax for its first San Jose tower, but the businesses like the electrical contractor, the body shop, and the metal shop on my block pay list price. If prop 15 passed, the increased cost would have put them all under.
The people who supported prop 15 are evil and racist (it would have put many minority businesses out of business). The only businesses left would be giant corporations who could make deals. (See https://calmatters.org/commentary/my-turn/2020/10/prop-15-wo... ).
Prop 15 would have made all business pay the same rate. If you think there should be a lower rate for minority owned or small businesses, that's fine, but a subsidy based on the age of your business is not good policy.
No. Big businesses that build their corporate HQ get to negotiate with the county for property tax rates. Small business that buy small buildings don't.
You have every right to want to see small businesses replaced by corporate megaliths, but don't pretend you're doing that out of "fairness." That's evil.
That’s why “Prop 15” which would have overturned prop 13 protection for business but not homeowners was so obscene: it would only adversely affect small Mom & Pop businesses. Big mega corporations could negotiate.
