Four decades later: Do Californians still support Prop 13?
UC Berkeley's Institute of Governmental Studies (IGS) analyzes recent data showing that 53% of State voters would still give Prop 13 the stamp of approval today—and this majority preference is seen across all party, political, sex, age, and racial subgroups (with the sole exception of “very liberal” Californians). Meanwhile, SJ's elected representatives enthusiastically campaign for anti-Prop 13 measures ACA 1 & 13, and near-unanimously oppose the Taxpayer Protection and Gov't Accountability Act.
In its the final pre-election survey completed in late October the Berkeley IGS Poll asked voters their views about the landmark 1978 property tax reduction initiative, Proposition 13, as well as about the current levels of state and local taxes that the average Californian has to pay.
The findings indicate that California voters continue to broadly support Proposition 13 and would endorse its passage by a wide margin if it were up for a vote again today. While there has been a steady increase in the proportion of voters with no opinion of the iconic initiative over the years, among voters voicing an opinion,supporters outnumber opponents by a nearly three to one margin (53% to 19%). ...
Expressing the highest levels of support for Proposition 13 are Republicans, conservatives, long-time homeowners and seniors, greater than seven in ten of whom would endorse the initiative if it were up for a vote again today. Voters who reported being very or somewhat familiar with the initiative say they would back Proposition 13 68% to 26%. In addition, majorities or pluralities of registered Democrats, No Party Preference voters, political moderates, renters, and voters across all age, race, gender and regions of the state would also back the initiative if voting on it today.
The only major voter subgroup of voters where more would vote against Proposition 13 than would support it are Californians describing themselves as very liberal in politics.
This article originally appeared in the Institute of Governmental Studies. Read the whole thing here.
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