HomeMy WebLinkAboutRESO 9413Resolution No. 9413
Resolution of the City Council of the City of Palo Alto
Supporting Prop 13 Reform
WHEREAS, Proposition 13, passed in 1978, is unfair in that it allows
commercial property owners to avoid paying their fair share and has shifted the tax burden to
residential property and away from business, including everyday homeowners and working
families; and
WHEREAS, the state of California continues to face chronic budget crises in
large part because Proposition 13 has forced the state to rely on more volatile revenue sources
than the property tax, like income taxes and sales taxes paid by working families that move in
tandem with economic cycles, causing deficits and requiring cuts to vital services that grow our
economy and thereby worsening economic downturns;
WHEREAS, regularly reassessing non-residential property would, according to
an analysis of data provided by the California Board of Equalization, generate at least $6 billion
in additional revenue for California, and shift the tax burden from homeowners, renters, and
working families to corporations and commercial landholders;
WHEREAS, tax revenues generated by modernizing how commercial property
is reassessed benefits local counties, cities, special districts and schools and not the state general
fund.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council ofthe City of
Palo Alto supports this resolution but shall not constitute formal support of any particular ballot
measure on this or a related subject until such ballot measure is separately reviewed and
endorsed by the City Council.
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INTRODUCED AND PASSED: May 12,2014
AYES: BERMAN, BURT, KLEIN, KNISS, PRICE, SCHARFF, SCHMID,
SHEPHERD
NOES: HOLMAN,
ABSENT:
ABSTENTIONS:
APPROVED:
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
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