As the final day of the legislative session dawned last week, taxpayers were cautiously optimistic. After all, we had already stopped the most direct …
California Commentary
California Special Districts: Hiding in Plain Sight
Special districts in California are the unnoticed variant of local government entities. Although they spend over $42 billion annually, most taxpayers …
High Speed Rail Is ‘On Track’ to Incur Billions in Overruns
High-speed rail continues to be an expensive, sick joke for California. Under the current plan, it is no longer “high-speed” and projected costs, …
Chickens Coming Home to Roost
State Controller Betty Yee's just-released July Cash Report shows state personal income tax revenue falling behind estimates by 6.9 percent, or $323 …
Controller Dead Wrong on Property Taxes
California’s State Controller, Betty Yee, normally displays a measured, albeit liberal, view of California fiscal affairs. While viewed as reasonably …
Heads Up, Taxpayers
If public attention is being drawn to national politics and the presidential race, there is a group of local officials who are thrilled. They have …
Teachers Union Hits Taxpayers with ‘Money Club’ Again
The California Teachers Association has just dropped $10 million into its campaign to extend the “temporary” income tax hike voters approved when they …
Tell Me Again Why We Need Higher Taxes?
This November, California voters will face a slew of tax and bond proposals at both the state and local levels. Each of those ballot measures will be …
Is Coffee the New Gold Standard?
Since 1971, the United States has been off the gold standard. Instead of the value of the dollar being defined in terms of gold, our currency is said …
‘Right to Vote on Taxes’ Case Now Before California Supreme Court
Last week the California Supreme Court agreed to hear a case that could determine whether the right to vote on local taxes, which is constitutionally …