WHAT IS PROP. 13?

Proposition 13, the nation-leading California ballot initiative to control property taxes, placed limits on the annual increase in the taxable value of property while it was under the same ownership and cut the property tax rate to 1%. Prior to Prop. 13, property in California was assessed at current market value every year and the statewide average tax rate was 2.67%. As inflation pushed real estate values higher and higher in the 1970s, many property owners were forced to sell what they had worked so hard to own, only because the annual tax bills had become unaffordable.

To prevent state and local governments from going around the measure’s limits on taxation, Prop. 13 also required a two-thirds vote of the Legislature to raise state taxes, gave voters the right to vote on local taxes and prohibited new real estate transfer taxes as well as new ad valorem (based on value) property taxes.

Proposition 13 passed with nearly 65% of the statewide vote in 1978 and has continued to enjoy the support of two-thirds of Californians ever since.

The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association (HJTA.org) is a member-supported nonprofit organization backed by hundreds of thousands of members throughout California. It was founded in 1978 by Prop. 13 proponent Howard Jarvis with a mission to protect Proposition 13 and all California taxpayers, and to defend the taxpayer protections voters adopted through the initiative process. HJTA has offices in Sacramento and Los Angeles.

You’re cordially invited to become a member of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association. Join us today at HJTA.org.