An open letter to Mullin regarding Proposition 19

Jan 8, 2026
23 hrs ago
5

Editor,

As the author of Proposition 19, you/it did more than change tax policy — you rewrote the fate of California families at the moment they are most vulnerable.

(5) comments

Lou Jan 8, 2026 10:29am

There is a movement to abolish property taxes in California (which amount to approximately $98-100billion annual), with a consumption tax. (sales tax added on to existing sales tax) of approx. 3-4%. To replace about $100 billion in property taxes, the state would therefore need approximately 3.3–4.% additional percentage points of sales tax on that same base (100 ÷ 25–30 ≈ 3.3–4.0). This would be more fair than huge property taxes for some and none or next to none for others. People would have a choice. If they don't want to pay the tax, don't buy the item. In my case I would be paying about one tenth annual (1/10th) of the tax that I now pay in property tax. This also would help senior citizens who are near being taxed out of their homes, and have paid egregious taxes (50% of property taxes go for schools) for decades to support others.

Dirk van Ulden Jan 8, 2026 6:03pm

Lou - I would be firmly opposed to such a tax. It is called a Value Added Tax, VAT which is assessed on all products and services, including medication, groceries, utilities, entertainment, and whatever the consumer spends. In the Netherlands the VAT was capped originally at 5%. Unlike our Prop 13 protection, they are now paying 22% extra on everything. It is a cash cow and they can't seem to keep it under control. Let that be a warning.

joebob91 Jan 8, 2026 9:50am

What is the justification for one property owner paying less tax than another? I don't understand why one owner of a $2 million house should pay $30K/year in taxes and another $5K/year.

Dirk van Ulden Jan 8, 2026 6:12pm

joebob - look at the tax rolls. Over time, as houses are sold and reassessed, it comes out in the wash. Any form of control over taxation should be praised instead of badgered. Like many other millions in the County, if we had not passed Prop 13, many of our homes would have been reassessed, and that would have forced us out. Since my purchase in 1979, 99% of the houses on our street have been sold, sometimes more than once. They are reassessed every times at prevailing value so don't cry for the tax collector. This county is flush with money, don't ever believe them when they cry for more.

Terence Y Jan 8, 2026 8:16am

Thanks for your letter, Mr. Lawrence, but the call to action should focus on adding a ballot measure to rescind Proposition 19 instead of counting on Mr. Mullin to do anything. Getting a proposition on the ballot won’t be easy. I’m betting Democrats will find an activist judge saying voters aren’t allowed to put this ballot measure to the public.

The bottom line is to follow the money. When parents die, the state receives capital gains taxes from the selling of the home and the state receives more property taxes on the increased home value assessment to the new buyer. There’s no incentive for the state to decrease home values and there’s no incentive to allow children to keep homes in families for year and years. There’s more incentive to increase turnover. By any means necessary as there’s plenty of money to be made by taxing folks coming and going. Why would the state give that up? They have ever-increasing union salaries, pensions, and benefits to pay, including their own.

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