2018 Election Day! Prop 5 and 10
Prop 5
CHANGES REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTAIN PROPERTY OWNERS TO TRANSFER THEIR PROPERTY TAX BASE TO REPLACEMENT PROPERTY. INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AND STATUTE.
Summary - Removes certain transfer requirements for homeowners over 55, severely disabled homeowners, and contaminated or disaster-destroyed property. Fiscal Impact: Schools and local governments each would lose over $100 million in annual property taxes early on, growing to about $1 billion per year. Similar increase in state costs to backfill school property tax losses.
What Your Vote Means
Yes - A YES vote on this measure means: All homeowners who are over 55 (or who meet other qualifications) would be eligible for property tax savings when they move to a different home.
No - A NO vote on this measure means: Certain homeowners who are over 55 (or who meet other qualifications) would continue to be eligible for property tax savings when they move to a different home.
Arguments
Pro - Prop. 5 eliminates the "moving penalty" that currently hurts SENIORS (55+) and SEVERELY DISABLED Californians. YES means SENIORS and SEVERELY DISABLED can purchase a new primary residence and not face this property tax penalty. YES allows SENIORS/ SEVERELY DISABLED to move near family or purchase more practical, safer homes.
Con - Prop. 5 doesn't build any new housing or help first-time homebuyers purchase homes. It will cut up to $1 billion in local revenue from public schools, fire, police, health care and other services for tax breaks for wealthy Californians and to help its authors—corporate real estate interests.
Prop 10
EXPANDS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS’ AUTHORITY TO ENACT RENT CONTROL ON RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY. INITIATIVE STATUTE.
Summary - Repeals state law that currently restricts the scope of rent control policies that cities and other local jurisdictions may impose on residential property. Fiscal Impact: Potential net reduction in state and local revenues of tens of millions of dollars per year in the long term. Depending on actions by local communities, revenue losses could be less or considerably more.
What your Vote Means
Yes - A YES vote on this measure means: State law would not limit the kinds of rent control laws cities and counties could have.
No - A NO vote on this measure means: State law would continue to limit the kinds of rent control laws cities and counties could have.
Arguments
Pro - Prop. 10 restores authority to establish rent control in local communities, putting fair, annual limits on the amount landlords can raise rent. This keeps tenants in their homes rather than being pushed far away or into homelessness. TEN protects TENants. Supporters: CALIFORNIA DEMOCRATIC PARTY, California Nurses Association, California Teachers Association, ACLU of California, Housing California, Eviction Defense Network, SEIU, National Urban League, Southern Christian Leadership Conference of Southern California.
Con - Prop. 10 will make the housing crisis worse, not better. Affordable housing advocates agree that Prop. 10 is bad for renters and bad for homeowners! It allows regulation of single-family homes and puts bureaucrats in charge of housing by letting them add fees on top of rent. VOTE NO ON 10!
Source: California Secretary of State, Official Voter Information Guide