Barry,

Remember, I am a homeowner also. I'm not taking a stab at a benefit that does not effect me.
If Prop 13 were to be recalled, I would suffer having to pay an increase in taxes as well.
So while I am the type of person that likes to vote with my wallet, on the issue of Prop 13, compared to the other states I have lived in, it's bringing this state down, not propping it up.

The roads by my house are as bad as bad can be. The public school systems are horrible. The police force is overworked, understaffed and we have fire departements that don't have enough money to put out out these ginormous blazes that are popping up everywhere.

As a tax payer, I would love for the state gov't to put a ceiling on INCOME TAX as well. What I'm paying today in income will be the same thing I'm paying in 30 years regardless of earnings, etc. But the loss of that revenue is not going to help city groups to budget better, it's only going to leave them underfunded with less adequate professionals doing the job because salaries are too low.

No one likes to pay more taxes but it's a necessary evil.

I've also never seen a toll road in California. There are certainly none in Los Angeles. You can't get out of the state of New Jersey without paying a toll for using their highways..

And it's the income that is gained from things like tolls and real estate taxes that helps pay for schools and roads.

So you have to ask yourself, what's more important. Giving people a BONUS by not having to pay adequate taxes because they have been living in a home for X amount of years or having good schools, roads, police departments, fire departments, etc.

In addition, the increase that is allowed in real estate taxes does not even come close to matching the increase in inflation. Which actually means, you are paying LESS in taxes than you were 30 years ago.

I could understand if the tax increases were keeping up with inflation or the cost of living but it doesn't. When fuel prices go up, so do the prices of running school buses and ambulances for the fire department.

Yes, there is a benefit to all homeowners, especially the homeowners who have been in there homes a long time. But just like someone in NYC who has a 4000 sqft. rent controlled apt. on Central Park South for $1000 month isn't fair, neither is a homeowner in California who is paying 1/20 in taxes for the same property as their neighbor with the exact same house.

Just my .02..
And don't think it's narrow. I understand the other points, but the means don't justify the ends.

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"When two people agree on everything, one of them is not necessary" - Arliss