In what is becoming a very enjoyable ritual after every election, Calitics is once again mythbusting the notion that Californians somehow dislike taxes. The evidence yet again proves that voters will indeed approve tax increases.
California City Finance reported on the numbers yesterday. They found that 73% of the local tax and bond measures on the June 8 ballot passed – 44 out of 60. Here’s the breakdown:
| Type | Total | Pass | Passing % |
| City Majority Vote | 11 | 9 | 82 |
| County Majority Vote | 2 | 2 | 100 |
| City 2/3 Vote | 8 | 5 | 63 |
| County 2/3 Vote | 1 | 1 | 100 |
| Special District (2/3) | 9 | 6 | 67 |
| School Parcel Tax (2/3) | 9 | 6 | 67 |
| School bond (55%) | 20 | 15 | 75 |
The report also notes that 65% of majority vote local taxes have been approved since 2001.
The passage rate would have been higher if California had real democracy instead of rigging elections so that a small minority can block these tax increases. Of the three school parcel taxes that “failed,” only one actually failed to get a 50%+1 majority, and that was in the Cutler-Orosi Joint USD in Tulare/Fresno counties.
June 2010 results prove yet again that Californians will vote for tax increases. They won’t approve every one, but they will approve most of them. The myth, lacking in evidence, that California voters are anti-tax has once again been exposed as a lie.
police trained in hardcore anti-protest techniques for Palin CSUS appearance.
http://palingates.blogspot.com… it.html
The facts presented do indeed indicate that Californians will vote for tax increases. 44 out of 60 is a strong pro-tax result. I would argue that the reason for these types of successes is because voters can draw a clear linkage between the tax and some tangible benefit from that extra revenue.
At the statewide level, I would theorize that voters will oppose new taxes (such as higher income, sales, and car registration tax) because they are folded into the state’s general revenue pile and allow the state legislature to direct the use of such funds. Because the legislature’s approval rate is abysmal, and most voters are uncomfortable with the concept of that group directing the use of funds, such statewide taxes will be strongly opposed.
My solution would be to devolve as many services as possible from the state to the city and county level, where government can be held much more accountable and where big money (on both sides) has less of a sway.