No matter how much we wish we could avoid writing about California’s High Speed Rail Project, sometimes circumstances give us no choice. The …
California Commentary
Why LA’s ‘mansion tax’ is the best argument for statewide tax reform
Later this week, proponents of the Local Taxpayer Protection Act to Save Prop. 13 initiative will submit over 1 million signatures to county election …
What if bankruptcy is the only viable solution for California?
There are some very smart people who believe that California has already fallen off the fiscal cliff and that it’s too far gone to be saved. A great …
Local sales tax hikes coming soon across California
As this column has noted on numerous occasions, California’s state sales tax rate of 7.25% is the highest in the nation. When the local sales tax …
Why does California even bother with a budget?
Understandably, very few citizens of California follow closely the state budget process which, for the 2026-27 fiscal year, just kicked off with the …
California’s cost of living illustrated
It has been said that a picture is worth a thousand words. One can attempt to describe Yosemite Valley verbally, but other than being there, a …
Blue states have a fraud problem
There is a great deal of media attention over the state of Minnesota’s $9 billion (minimum) fraud problem. If this were a contest, California would …
Courts widen the door to even more local taxes in California
Since 1978 with the passage of Proposition 13, California voters have repeatedly tried to protect their homes and businesses from excessive taxation …
Santa Jarvis’ Annual Naughty and Nice List
The mood is right. The spirit’s up. We’re here to give you Santa Jarvis’ annual taxpayer naughty and nice list during this wonderful …
The California Way: High taxes and government waste
California’s tax burden is always a hot topic, especially now. With a state budget that is allegedly short of money (fact check: spending discipline …