OK i get your points.

I guess that I feel the generational prop 13 argument is simply an inaccurate characterization aimed at creating a divisiveness that completely ignores the OTHER revenue generating opportunities available to our communities and which prop 13 has no say in.

On this point the record is pretty clear that voters do seem to give up more towards specific uses when put to a vote. Gen’l fund “black hole” proposals seem to crash and burn pretty routinely.

From this perspective, prop 13 can be viewed simply as a scapegoat for an inability to rationalize and pass new tax sources AND which, when they do pass, we all pay at current market rates.

Now that we’ve got that straightened out, let’s turn our attentions to the question of why voters are so squeeky tight with passing new tax initiatives . . . .

Thanks for info Common Tater. The uniqueness of blockshopper.com is that you can look at all the homes in a given neighborhood in one view.

Can always count on Elwood for that empathy thing.

Livestrong — Average residential property tax in CA relative to market value is about .5% — with anybody who bought in the past several years paying about 1.25% — depending on special assessments and parcel taxes and anybody who owned 30 years ago (or inherited from somebody who did) paying a small fraction of that. New generation of homeowners pay about the highest effective taxes in the country (for comparable homes) so that long-timers can pay the lowest in the country. Those who defend the system like to compare it to a sales tax, which is charged based on what the item cost at the time of purchase. But we are all paying for the same current basket of services (whether we directly use them or not). Limiting growth in property taxes was necessary. It just should have been done in a way that was fair to everybody, not based on when a home was purchased. It’s just one more reason for employers to avoid CA, so that their employees won’t be subjected to thousands in extra housing costs. Provisions could have been made for seniors with moderate incomes (deferral until property sold, reverse mortgage etc.) In a way, that’s taxation without representation, in that the folks who have to pay the higher taxes didn’t get to vote on the idea.

Gonna be tough titty!

Right here in river city!

generational discrmination of Prop 13

how strange is this idea ?

You buy a house or I buy the same house.
You are 80 and I’m 28.
where is the “generational discrimination” – ??????

I suppose .19 cent a gallon gas was “generational discrimination” – - or the AT&T stock my grandaddy bought for $.62 a share – LOL ! ! ! ! ! !

And why does someone want to publish all taxpayers tax burden?

Trying to make a lame analogy in opposition to the obvious need for public disclosure of the incomes of PUBLIC EMPLOYEES perhaps ?

Maybe someone is just P.O’d and not thinking straight.

https://taxcolp.co.contra-costa.ca.us/taxpaymentrev3/summary/account_lookup_pyr.jsp

Enter either the parcel number or the street address. On the next screen, click on one of the “Secured” links under the “Bill Type” column. This will bring up that parcel’s property tax bill.

While you’re at it, take note of what the Tax Rate Area (TRA) is for that parcel. It’s on the tax bill and a little hard to find. Note the TRA and then go to

http://www.co.contra-costa.ca.us/index.asp?nid=1125

This is the “Where Your Property Tax Dollars Go” page. Type your TRA in at the bottom and you’ll a listing of the specific allocations for that TRA of the basic 1 percent property tax. Cool, huh?

There are several school districts in the data base, but SRV is absent.

WHoever said that all salary / income information should be made public was mistaken – - the taxpayers most certainly do NOT pay for “..everything..everywhere..” – - but, if it would make you feel any better, you can find the annual salaries and descriptions of the highest-paid executives in most any public company in the various filings required by the SEC – - – all of which can be accessed pretty easilly. . . . and publically traded companies have been required to do so since – - well, for a LOOOONG time.

Thanks do Dan B. for doing the job that every professional reporter SHOULD be doing – - but, sadly, so few ARE doing.

P.S. – there ARE a couple of groups that are under-paid in the public sector. Those who staff our classrooms are at the top of my list (which does NOT include admin and management BTW).