Initiative 1033 is an ill-conceived attempt to limit the growth of state, county and city revenues; to express the will of the people; and to give working families and seniors a tax break. It doesn’t deliver on its promises, and it doesn’t do much of anything well.
It does not necessarily check the growth of state programs. It says that if the state receives too much revenue, it must take it out of the school tax levy. It does nothing that requires the state to limit expenditures in any other program. This approach makes no sense at all.
It doesn’t necessarily express the will of the people. More than half of my property tax bill is for education, mostly voter- approved levies. “The people” regularly approve excess levies because we recognize that education is important and that the state levy for schools is not enough.
It does not necessarily give working families and seniors a meaningful break. “Struggling working families” are more likely to rent than more affluent citizens and may not even get a break at all. The biggest tax breaks would go to business and wealthy landowners, who need it least.
The value of the tax break for seniors is diminished by the exemptions they qualify for that already lower their bill. There are better ways to address the needs of working families and seniors. This is the wrong tool for the job.
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