Proposition 13 (2010)

Seismic Retrofitting

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Earthquake safety improvements made to unreinforced masonry (such as brick) buildings would not result in higher property taxes until the property is sold.

Yes: 3,263,664 [84.6%]
No: 598,245 [15.4%]

Details

Pro/Con
Pro: 

Supporters say that Proposition 13 makes necessary changes to the state constitution in order to eliminate a dangerous disincentive for property owners to upgrade un-reinforced masonry structures in order to improve earth quake safety. Supporters also say that the proposition promotes fairness by eliminating the unequal treatment of different types of property which undergo seismic safety improvements.

Supporters

California Chamber of Commerce

Con: 

No argument against Proposition 13 was submitted.              

In Depth

Proposition 13 would change state law by deleting the two existing exclusions regarding seismic upgrades and replacing them with a single seismic safety exclusion. Currently, local property taxes are based on a property’s assessed value.

When a property is not sold or there is no new construction on a property, assessors will generally keep the value the same plus a small yearly increase for inflation. New construction, however, usually causes a reassessment if a new building is added, a building is converted to new use, or a building is renovated to appear new. The new assessed value will increase depending on the assessor's consideration of value added by the new construction. Regular maintenance and repairs do not generally raise the value of a property.

Currently, the law excludes seismic upgrades on unreinforced masonry buildings from reassessment for a period of 15 years. The law also excludes earthquake upgrades to any building without a time limit. Proposition 13 would introduce a new exclusion which would last until the property is sold and would have no time limit. Properties with masonry buildings would have their reassessment limit extended beyond 15 years. Future masonry building upgrades would receive exclusions with no time limit. Proposition 13 would mean that earthquake safety improvements made to unreinforced masonry buildings would not result in higher property taxes until the building is sold.

Polling

SurveyUSA Election Poll #16638
"On Proposition 13, which prevents property taxes from being reassessed after buildings are renovated for earthquake protection, are you ... Certain to vote yes? Certain to vote no? Or not certain? {"Not certain" voters were asked: At this hour, on Proposition 13, do you ... lean toward yes? lean toward no, or do you not lean?}””

Voter Resources

Official CA Documents

Official Voter Information Guide

Campaign Finance Information

Cal-Access General
Committees formed to support or oppose the ballot measure.

Cal-Access Ballot Measure Summary Data Search
Select Primary 08 June 2010 and Proposition 013.

Cal-Acess provides financial information supplied by state candidates, donors, lobbyists, and others.

Nonpartisan Analysis

Ballotpedia

Pros & Cons (League of Women Voters)

Multimedia
Non-Partisan
The Better Part - June 2010 Ballot Measures -- League of Women Voters Cupertino-Sunnyvale
The Better Part - June 2010 Ballot Measures -- League of Women Voters Cupertino-Sunnyvale
Voter Minute: Propostion 13 -- Center for Governmental Studies
Voter Minute: Propostion 13 -- Center for Governmental Studies
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