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Susan Shelley: Warning for Californians: tax hikes are coming
Some thoughts about the 14 year gap between the S&P and Moody's downgrades of the US bond rating.
By 2011, independent analysts could see that federal debt service costs were on track to becoming unsustainable later in the 21st Century. It was also obvious that Baby Boomer…
Last year almost $10 billion was gambled on the lottery—and government schools got $2.25 billion—less than 25% of the gross raised. Where's the money? We were told when the Lotto started that the money would go to schools. The evidence suggests otherwise.
California Democrats won’t rule out new state tax to keep funding healthcare for undocumented immigrants.
Jon Coupal: Support the Save Proposition 13 Act of 2026
NEW: The price tag for the California High Speed Rail’s leg between Bakersfield and Merced may grown, again.
Project leaders quietly warned last week it could grow up to $38.5 Billion, creating an even bigger project budget hole of $10.2B.
As other states pursue thoughtful fiscal policies that promote growth, California heads in the opposite direction. "CA Governor moves right on cultural issues, but doesn’t repudiate progressive tax-and-welfare orthodoxy." @hjta via @WSJopinion
Coming up in minutes on @MottekOnMoney with @frankmottek to talk about the new initiative from @HJTA, the Save Proposition 13 Act of 2026. Listen on 790 KABC or .
"Nearly one-third of California prisoners released early during the pandemic by Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration ended up back in state prison, according to California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation data."
Faced with a $30 minimum wage, hotel investors start looking outside L.A.
NEW: Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association files 2 versions of the 'Save Proposition 13 Act of 2026', which would set a 2/3rds voter approval threshold to raise special taxes on homeowners and businesses.
Fact check: True.
More info: https://www.dailynews.com/2025/04/28/the-city-of-los-angeles-excels-at-setting-taxpayer-money-on-fire/
@WallStreetApes
California state lawmakers proposed increasing taxes and fees more than $14.4 billion a year during the first five months of the 2025-26 legislative session, the California Tax Foundation reported today.
https://www.caltax.org/foundation/reports/20250512-Tax-and-Fee-Report.pdf
The new taxes and fees proposed by lawmakers…
$ounding the alarm: California's government is plotting to raise taxes and prevent previous tax hikes from expiring.
The current policy of "soak the rich, watch them leave, and wait for a federal bailout" isn't producing enough $ to keep up with $pending.
California's Legislative Analyst's Office analyzes the reauthorization of cap-and-trade (the main funding source for the 2045 Gilroy to Palmdale HSR line), noting emitters would potentially pay hundreds of billions for allowances that would likely result in higher gas prices.
My latest column: Before leaving SF board of supes, Catherine Stefani pushed to lower firefighters’ retirement age. Now in the CA Assembly, she has a bill that could increase unfunded pension liabilities statewide. Why the push for pensions we can’t afford?
New column: California's fourth-ranked economy is also tops in unemployment, poverty and deficits
Median property taxes in the U.S. rose an average of 10.4% from 2021 to 2023, LendingTree study finds.
In California, Proposition 13 protects property owners by establishing a tax rate of 1% of its acquisition value, with a maximum yearly increase of 2%. The study notes,…
How many cities have turned to tax roll billing? The presentation in Upland listed 16, including Newport Beach, Riverside, San Bernardino, Placentia, Rialto, Claremont, Fontana, Ontario, Fresno and Stockton.
Why are southern California cities turning toward tax roll billing?
And this is the result: cities collecting rising utility bills from financially strapped residents using the threat ...
www.dailynews.com
It’s been five months since California’s legislative leaders deemed affordability an “urgent” issue for the session. So far: committees, bills, but few results.
https://calmatters.org/politics/2025/05/california-legislature-affordability-crisis-democrats/
Did they forget the pension crisis?
California Assembly is working on not just one, but two different bills, that will worsen the state's pension funding gap.
Highway 1 in Big Sur has been closed for 838 days. In that time China has built 3500 miles of high speed rail, and California hasn't been able to fix a quarter mile of highway.
The cost of supporting California's government retirees is unsustainable. Naturally, state lawmakers are ready to make things worse.
From my colleague @MarcJoffe
I was 21 when the proposition passed. I will be 58 when it goes from Palmdale to Gilroy.
If the state COMMITS to repaying private investors willing to fund high-speed rail, that is called a BOND. It must be approved by voters.
State lawmakers are pushing unnecessary public pension bills that would increase taxpayers’ costs and debt
New column: Lawmakers might undermine California's landmark public pension reform
This @DanCALmatters piece is a must read: "When California politicians ignore policy risks, failure and scandal often result" @hjta. (I would have said "always" but I won't quibble.)
As other states pursue thoughtful fiscal policies that promote growth, California heads in the opposite direction. "CA Governor moves right on cultural issues, but doesn’t repudiate progressive tax-and-welfare orthodoxy." @hjta via @WSJopinion
Opinion | Gavin Newsom’s High-Tax Revenue Woes
As he moves right on culture, he still has a tax-and-welfare problem.
www.wsj.com
So, California, how do you like this map? I didn't think so. "State and Local Tax Collections Per Capita by State, 2025." @hjta.
State and Local Tax Collections Per Capita by State, 2025
According to the latest economic data from the US Census Bureau, the average per capita state and local tax burd...
taxfoundation.org
Great question. "She was S.F.’s most moderate supe. Why is she now pushing so many irresponsible pension expansions?" @hjta @emily_hoeven via @sfchronicle
She was S.F.’s most moderate supe. Why is she now pushing so many irresponsible pension expansions?
Catherine Stefani’s recent pension expansion effort is a surprising twist for a...
www.sfchronicle.com
Read it here: https://tinyurl.com/4csbs77w
Advice to Mahan: Bank on the Basics
"Garbage collection, sidewalks, fire protection, and police services may not be sexy, but they are what citizens want." @joncoupal @seldomtravelled
This is correct. HJTA is monitoring the protest procedure. @hjta. "San Diego’s Garbage Gauge: City Sticks Homeowners With The Trash Bill." https://open.substack.com/pub/theflashreport/p/san-diegos-garbage-gauge-city-sticks?r=1vuxk&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email
This @DanCALmatters piece is a must read: "When California politicians ignore policy risks, failure and scandal often result" @hjta. (I would have said "always" but I won't quibble.)
When California politicians ignore policy risks, failure and scandal often result
California lawmakers have a knack for instituting major programs and policies without scrutinizing the potential downsides.
calmatters.org
Any guesses where California ranks? "Affordability and Homebuilding: State-by-State Report Cards." @hjta. via @RDC_Economics
Affordability and Homebuilding: State-by-State Report Cards
States have a clear mandate to address housing affordability, so we are assigning grades based on how they are d...
www.realtor.com
Banked vacation leads to a $1.2-million payday: How state workers cash in on days off. “There’s no parallel to this in the private sector,” said Jon Coupal, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assn. “Obviously this is a problem.” @hjta.
Banked vacation leads to a $1.2-million payday: How state workers cash in on days off
More and more state workers are able to retire with massive payouts for unused vacation and other leave, with a ...
www.latimes.com
250 years ago today, American patriots stood up against tyranny. @hjta. Let's keep the revolution going.
Let me get this straight: At the same time San Diego is pushing a new trash fee on homeowners, a senior attorney ($300k/year) gets to work from "home" on a cruise ship??? "Bon voyage: Top SD lawyer collecting full pay during 4-month global cruise. @hjta.
Bon voyage: Top San Diego lawyer collecting full pay during 4-month global cruise
Weeks after Jean Jordan was promoted by the newly elected city attorney, she left for an around-the-world cruise.
www.sandiegouniontribune.com
Sorry, Ray. There's not enough lipstick in the world . . . "New plan to accelerate California high-speed rail construction deserves attention, support." @hjta
New plan to accelerate California high-speed rail construction deserves attention, support
The new chief executive for California's high-speed rail project has a plan to accelerate construction and attract private investment.
calmatters.org
If there were any doubts as to why Prop. 13 is so important to CA homeowners, this @wsj article should dispel them entirely. "Americans have amassed $35 trillion of wealth in their homes, yet many feel less well off because of it." @hjta. via @WSJ
Americans Have $35 Trillion in Housing Wealth—and It’s Costing Them
Surging home equity is all the more important in a declining stock market. But it’s come with rising property ...
www.wsj.com
Democrats certainly aren't shy about keeping their machinations out of public view. "Democracy in the dark: How California lawmakers are trying to shield themselves from public view." @hjta.
Democracy in the dark: How California lawmakers are trying to shield themselves from public view
Transparency alert: While Californians confront officials at town halls, politicians are pushing bills to shield themselves from public view.
calmatters.org
Did these people not get the memo that citizens want the state to stop coddling violent offenders? "California to spend $239 million to turn San Quentin into Scandinavian-style rehab center." @hjta. via @sfchronicle
California to spend $239 million to turn San Quentin into Scandinavian-style rehab center
A farmers market and a podcast studio are among the amenities likely coming to San...
www.sfchronicle.com
Proposed South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) regulations on gas appliances are just the latest example of narrow thinking. "Sacramento consistently fails to consider the long-term consequences." @hjta.
Sacramento consistently fails to consider the long-term consequences
These failures in governance have one thing in common – the absence of serious consideration of present realities or downstream effects.
www.ocregister.com
Holy Moly. This looks like an impending train wreck for Democrats "2030 Apportionment Forecast - 2022 - The American ... " @hjta. Hol
2030 Apportionment Forecast - 2022 - The American Redistricting ...
Found on Google from thearp.org
images.app.goo.gl
And yet they expect a bailout from state taxpayers. Hard pass. "Los Angeles announced a $1 billion budget hole owing to a slowing economy and soaring payouts to public unions." @hjta. via @WSJopinion
Opinion | Los Angeles Goes for Broke—Literally
The city faces a huge budget hole after years of mismanagement.
www.wsj.com
The graph embedded in this article is very illuminating. "California epitomizes the leftist policies that harm workers and employers. That’s why so many are leaving for Texas." via @WSJopinion. @hjta.
Opinion | A Tale of Two States on Job Creation
California had a jobs recession in 2024, Texas had a jobs boom.
www.wsj.com
This proposal, even if approved by the legislature, will face huge blowback from voters. "A bill to save Bay Area transit from financial disaster is back on the table. It'll need voters' approval, too." @hjta.
A bill to save Bay Area transit from financial disaster is back on the table. It’ll need voters’...
BART, MUNI and Caltrain could be headed toward service cuts if the Bay Area can’t find a more sustainable fund...
www.mercurynews.com
100 times the waste! What am I missing here? Rather than give out 100 burner phones to CEOs, why not keep one burner and give the CEO's that number? "Gov. Newsom sends 'bat phones' to CEOs of major California businesses." @hjta. @ZavalaA.
Gov. Newsom sends 'bat phones' to CEOs of major California businesses
Newsom's office confirmed the action on Monday night but would not say who exactly has received them so far.
www.kcra.com
There is no rational justification for school districts getting into the housing business. Its just empire building . "Mission creep inevitably bites taxpayers." @hjta.
Mission creep inevitably bites taxpayers
Schools should focus on education and eschew expanding their bureaucratic turf into housing
www.ocregister.com
A renewed effort to weaken transparency in local bond measures that @hjta fought so hard to pass. AB 699 deserves to die. "Playing political Whac-A-Mole as issue of bond measure language pops up again. @DanCALmatters @JayObernolte.
Playing political Whac-A-Mole as issue of bond measure language pops up again
Lawmakers introduce bills to make it hard for voters to see how much a proposed bond issue or tax increase would cost them.
calmatters.org
Global warming is killing us! Oh, wait. "300 people rescued from climate conference amidst Big Bear snow storm." @hjta.
300 people rescued from climate conference amidst Big Bear snow storm
The San Bernardino County Fire Department rescued some of them by making 3 trips to pick them up in a snow cat.
www.pressenterprise.com
No one should wonder why CA ranks dead last for small business survival. "How one sink turned Bob’s Donuts’ new S.F. store opening into a permit nightmare." @hjta. via @sfchronicle
How one sink turned Bob’s Donuts’ new S.F. store opening into a permit nightmare
As San Francisco strains to attract and retain small business owners, particularly near...
www.sfchronicle.com
Re our opposition to Prop 4: I hate to say we told you so, but . . . . "Commentary: Newsom's money grab targets bond funds for climate projects." @hjta.
Commentary: Newsom's money grab targets bond funds for climate projects
To help balance his budget, Newsom wants to grab roughly $300 million from the $10-billion climate bond approved overwhelmingly by voters in November.
www.latimes.com
When you've even lost the Sacramento Bee . . . "Robert Rivas slams the door on dissenters." My column for @ocregister.
Jon Coupal: Robert Rivas slams the door on dissenters
The sad part of Rivas’ actions is that he is denying his own party the opportunity to hear and respond to ...
www.ocregister.com
I'm shocked! Shocked, I tell you, that HSR is even further behind schedule and needs more money! Gee, who saw this coming? "High-speed rail leader says project needs to find new funding or costs and timeline will expand." @hjta.
High-speed rail leader says project needs to find new funding or costs and timeline will expand
High-Speed Rail Authority CEO Ian Choudri said the authority will ask the Trump administration for money, but even ...
www.latimes.com
This piece from @danCALmatters describes just how broken the budget process is. "California uses gimmicks instead of addressing the heart of its budget problem." @hjta.
California uses gimmicks instead of addressing the heart of its budget problem
Gimmickry has become an integral part of the current California budget process, even though the state faces a structural deficit.
calmatters.org
Yes, voter fraud is real, especially without rigorous voter i.d. "An indictment of three Pennsylvania men is another argument for states to pull back from Covid-19 voting laxity." @hjta. via @WSJopinion
Opinion | What Pennsylvania Voter Fraud Looks Like
Three men allegedly tried to steal a mayor’s race using mail votes.
www.wsj.com