October 14, 2019

The latest version of the Schools and Communities First initiative has been made public after proponents decided to pull their original proposition in favor of amending and requalifying it for the ballot, representing a significant cost in doing so. Also known as “split roll”, this initiative would untether commercial properties from Proposition 13 protections with the goal of raising some $8 billion annually (as estimated by the Legislative Analyst’s Office) to go toward schools and local governments.

The Chamber has had a longstanding position in opposition to split roll, as California already boasts the highest tax rates in many categories which all impact the ability of private-sector employers to locate in California and to grow here. To that end, Chamber staff spoke at a recent information hearing hosted by the Board of Equalization and asked for pragmatism when reviewing proposals to increase the tax burden.