By Jon Coupal, December 17, 2019
We’d like to make you aware that some signature gatherers are falsely claiming to represent or work for HJTA, and also falsely claiming that their petitions are for initiatives that would “protect Prop. 13.”
HJTA is not endorsing ANY petitions that are out there for signatures right now. There are two in particular that HJTA strongly opposes, and I’d like to make you aware of a method you may use to remove your signature if you have signed them by mistake.
The information on how to remove your signature can be found on the HJTA website. Go to www.HJTA.org and look for the flashing red light at the top that reads, “Find Out” (if you have mistakenly signed a petition for an initiative that would raise property taxes). Click the flashing light, or go directly to https://www.hjta.org/withdraw-your-signature-forms/.
There you can download and print the forms to remove your signature from two initiatives that are actually tax increases:
Initiative #19-0008 would revoke Proposition 13’s protection from business properties. This is the so-called split roll measure, a massive tax increase that would result in higher prices for everything you buy.
Initiative #19-0003 expands the opportunity for older homeowners to transfer their current property tax assessment to a replacement property, but it also REVOKES the protections of Proposition 58 and 193, which currently allow transfers of property between parents and children, and grandparents and grandchildren, without a reassessment. This is, on balance, a significant tax increase.
Help us spread the word so California voters are not fooled into signing these petitions. If you see any signature gatherers displaying posters or signs that claim they’re protecting Prop. 13, feel free to take a photo and email it to us at info@hjta.org. Let us know the location and date, and especially if the signature gatherer falsely claimed to represent HJTA.
Thank you for your help!
Jon Coupal is President of Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association
The first part is good (the part where mostly older property owners can transfer their tax basis from their current property county to any county in CA). The other part is not good for transfer of property.
There is a hole in the current law that does not permit transfer of tax basis from grandparent to grandchildren if the parent is alive. The grandchildren are the most likely to need a house to live in but if they have to wait for their parents to pass away before getting the property, it doesn’t help them.