Tag Archive for: Scott Wiener

Susan Kirsch on Assemblyman Marc Levine on Density

http://www.marinij.com/opinion/20170724/marin-voice-assemblyman-levine-stood-up-for-local-control

From the article:

“In 2014, Levine corrected a mistake that wrongfully categorized Marin as “urban,” reflecting small communities built along winding roads at the base of Mount Tamalpais. The new bill extends suburban density until 2028.

Elected officials in other jurisdictions prioritize “urban” zoning to match their urban lifestyle. They make choices to attract businesses, grow the workforce, build high-rises and establish freeways — and they bear responsibility to house their population.

Zoning is, and should remain, a local choice, not mandated by regional or state agencies. Marin is responsible to provide a full range of housing options for the people who live and work here, not be the solution for workforce housing shortages in Silicon Valley.

The subjective term “affordable” confuses the issue.

Marin’s urban-style Tam Ridge apartments on the former WinCup site offers 18 affordable units in the 180-unit complex. Four units are classified as “very low rent,” at $1,187 a month. Twelve “low rent” units are $1,928 and the two “moderate rent” units will set you back $3,490.

These “affordable” rents far exceed the reach of a minimum-wage worker making $28,000 a year.”

 

COST Joins Opposition to Scott Wiener’s SCA 6

Subject: OPPOSITION to SCA 6 (Wiener), as amended on May 1, 2017

Date: May 2, 2017
To: Members, Senate Transportation and Housing Committee
From: Therese Twomey, Director of State Fiscal Policy

The above-listed organizations [see below] are writing in opposition to
SCA 6, which allows local governments to increase local transportation taxes (including parcel taxes and sales taxes) with a 55 percent vote of the electorate, instead of a two-thirds vote as is required under current law. While we support maintaining and improving California’s transportation infrastructure, SCA 6 fails to address California’s flawed local tax structure.

We oppose SCA 6 for the following reasons:

(1) Erodes Proposition 13. Nearly 40 years ago, Proposition 13 was passed by the voters to
limit local taxation after years of rising local taxes. The two-thirds vote requirement does not
stop local governments from increasing taxes – it merely means that communities need to
see a rationale and benefit for the taxes they approve. California already has the highest
state-imposed sales tax rate, and among the highest per capita property taxes in the U.S.,
yet SCA 6 would increase the local tax burden by eroding the taxpayer safeguards of
Proposition 13.

(2)Promotes a Flawed Tax Structure. The structure of parcel taxes and local sales taxes is
flawed and lacks legislative oversight, yet SCA 6 would increase the number of sales and
parcel taxes that are imposed. The Legislature established a uniform sales tax law nearly 60
years ago, but recent changes to the tax code have neglected the importance of uniformity,
making it more difficult for retailers to comply with varying local sales tax laws. Further,
California is one of the only states in the U.S. that allows a local add-on parcel tax – and no
oversight has been provided to establish a comprehensive structure.

(3) Fails to Reform Transportation Funding. The California Transportation Commission has
found that state highways and local roads need more than $165 billion in funding to preserve
and maintain existing roads. These funds are needed just to fix California’s roads – and
that’s not including the price of expanding California’s capacity to move goods and people.
As California considers higher gas taxes, increased license and registration fees, vehicle
weight fee reforms, infrastructure bonds, and future road usage charges, local taxes –
approved by a two-thirds vote – can play a part in funding local infrastructure projects, but
changing the vote requirement is not necessary.

SCA 6 is a short-sighted measure to a longterm
issue that California needs to address.

For the foregoing reasons, we respectfully oppose SCA 6.

Apartment Association, California Southern Cities
Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles
Apartment Association of Orange County
Association of California Life and Health Insurance Companies
Calaveras County Taxpayers Association
California Association of Realtors
California Bankers Association
California Taxpayers Association
Coalition of Sensible Taxpayers – Marin County
Contra Costa Taxpayers’ Association
East Bay Rental Housing Association
Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association
Kern County Taxpayers Association
National Federation of Independent Business
North Valley Rental Property Association
Solano County Taxpayers Association
San Diego County Apartment Association
San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership
Santa Barbara Rental Property Association
Sutter County Taxpayers Association
Western States Petroleum Association

 
CALIFORNIA TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION

COST Joins Tax Watch Groups to Oppose SCA 6

Date: April 4, 2017

To: Members, Senate Governance and Finance Committee

From: Robert Gutierrez, Director of State and Local Finance

Subject: OPPOSITION to SCA 6 (Wiener), as amended on March 29, 2017

Link to Bill

The above-listed organizations are in opposition to SCA 6, which allows local governments to increase local transportation taxes (including parcel taxes and sales taxes) with a 55 percent vote of the electorate, instead of a two-thirds vote as is required under current law. While we support maintaining and improving California’s transportation infrastructure, SCA 6 fails to address California’s flawed local tax structure.

We oppose SCA 6 for the following reasons:

Erodes Proposition 13. Nearly 40 years ago, Proposition 13 was passed by the voters to limit local taxation after years of rising local taxes. The two-thirds vote requirement does not stop local governments from increasing taxes – it merely means that communities need to see a rationale and benefit for the taxes they approve. California already has the highest state-imposed sales tax rate, and among the highest per capita property taxes in the U.S., yet SCA 6 would increase the local tax burden by eroding the taxpayer safeguards of Proposition 13.

Promotes a Flawed Tax Structure. The structure of parcel taxes and local sales taxes is flawed and lacks legislative oversight, yet SCA 6 would increase the number of sales and parcel taxes that are imposed. The Legislature established a uniform sales tax law nearly 60
years ago, but recent changes to the tax code have neglected the importance of uniformity, making it more difficult for retailers to comply with varying local sales tax laws. Further, California is one of the only states in the U.S. that allows a local add-on parcel tax – and no oversight has been provided to establish a comprehensive structure.

Fails to Reform Transportation Funding. The California Transportation Commission has found that state highways and local roads need more than $165 billion in funding to preserve and maintain existing roads. These funds are needed just to fix California’s roads – and
that’s not including the price of expanding California’s capacity to move goods and people. As California considers higher gas taxes, increased license and registration fees, vehicle weight fee reforms, infrastructure bonds, and future road usage charges, local taxes – approved by a two-thirds vote – can play a part in funding local infrastructure projects, but
changing the vote requirement is not necessary. SCA 6 is a short-sighted measure to a long- term issue that California needs to address.
 
For the foregoing reasons, we respectfully oppose SCA 6.
 
Apartment Association, California Southern Cities
Apartment Association of Orange County
Association of California Life and Health Insurance Companies
California Association of Realtors California Bankers Association California Taxpayers Association
Coalition of Sensible Taxpayers – Marin County
Contra Costa Taxpayers’ Association East Bay Rental Housing Association Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association
National Federation of Independent Business North Valley Rental Property Association Solano County Taxpayers Association
San Diego County Apartment Association
Sutter County Taxpayers Association

 
 

cc: The Honorable Scott Wiener, California State Senate
 
 

California Tax Payers Association
1215 K Street, Suite 1250
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 441-0490
www.caltax.org