We have that already. The California Tax Postponement Program. It stacks on top of Prop 13.
Prop 13 is just a handout, it could disappear overnight and grandma wouldn't have to pay a dime.
Re:High property taxes are good
by dragonwriter on Wednesday July 20, 2022 @04:59PM
(#32172246)
> We have that already.
Roughly, yes (it's not exactly what I am describing, but pretty close); I’m saying if you are looking for a model to stop that problem elsewhere that has neither, copying Prop 13 (or even just the assessment increase limit, even if applied only to owner occupied primary residence) isn't the thing you should reach for.
Right. But the thing to realize about Prop 13 is that it was passed in malice. Angry voters wanted a "tax revolt" because they were upset with the state. That's why it expands to all property and not just primary residences (Jerry Brown's Prop 8 on the same ballot in 1978 was targeted but voters shot it down).
Of course nowadays it's easier to hire behind grandma than it is to defund school buses.
Prop 13 is one of the worst ideas in taxation ever. It would be better just to let the aged and disabled freely defer property taxes beyond a certain, income-based level (and maybe also to let other people do the same with certain limits on total deferred amount relative to assessed value for time-unlimited deferrals, and total time for value-unlimited deferrals.)