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 …
California Commentary
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 …
Property Taxes to Increase by 13 Percent in Coming Year
In Chicago, escalating property taxes are headline news. With the average property tax bill due to go up by 13 percent – and more increases in …
Concealed Transparency: Legislature Tries to Fool the Public Again
You might have heard some news lately about legislative transparency, referring to efforts to subject what goes on in the California Legislature to …
Budget Deception: Weird Accounting Diminishes Accountability
This week, after reaching agreement with Governor Brown, the California Legislature will pass the state budget for the 2016-17 fiscal year. In so …
Howard, What Have You Done for Me Lately?
Many of those under 50 do not remember tax revolt leader Howard Jarvis, who passed away 30 years ago, and yet, perhaps unknowingly, they are …
TAXPORTATION PART 2: Response to Will Kempton
Last week’s column presented the case for strong opposition to any new transportation taxes in California. But on Thursday, the Executive Director of …
TAXPORTATION: Profligate Waste Negates Justification for Transportation Tax Hike
A personal digression: My father was head of the Iowa Department of Transportation (then called the Iowa Highway Commission) in the late '60s and …
Budget Primer for California Citizen Taxpayers
Average taxpayers in California are probably aware that the state budget was in the news again over the weekend. But even folks who follow both …