San Francisco and California Ballot Backstory · Why is this on my ballot?
Prop 43: summary
Limits Voters’ Ability to Raise Revenues for Local Government Services
Mark your own choices here. You may bring this sheet into the voting booth.
A YES vote means
New, increased, or extended local special taxes (taxes for a specific purpose) that voters propose would need a two-thirds vote, starting January 1, 2027.
A NO vote means
No change. Local special taxes that voters propose could still pass with a majority (over 50%) vote, as recent court decisions have allowed.
Both ovals are empty on purpose. The choice is yours.
If it fails
Nothing changes if it fails
If Prop 43 fails, current rules stay. The Legislative Analyst (LAO) says recent court decisions let special taxes proposed by voters pass with a majority vote. Special taxes that local governments put on the ballot need two-thirds.
Why it’s on the ballot now
Local governments include cities, counties, special districts and school districts. They can raise taxes with local voter approval. Voters or a local board can put tax increases on the ballot.
Some local taxes need a two-thirds vote to pass, while others need a majority. Some last only for a limited time, and voters can be asked to extend them.
Local governments must get two-thirds voter approval for special taxes that they place on the ballot.
The Legislative Analyst (LAO) says recent court decisions have allowed special taxes proposed by voters to be approved with a majority vote. Prop 43 would change that.
The money
The LAO says Prop 43 makes it harder to pass certain local taxes, so local tax revenues could be lower in the future than they otherwise would be, by an unknown amount. See the money chart for the latest filed totals.
Needs a simple majority (50% + 1) to pass Some measures need 55% or two-thirds of votes to pass. This one needs only a simple majority.Who bears the cost
Local governments (tax revenue)
The LAO says local tax revenue could be lower in the future than it would be otherwise. It says the size is unknown and depends on later choices by local governments and voters.
Local taxpayers and votersNo new cost
The LAO says Prop 43 makes it harder to pass some local taxes. The Attorney General's summary says special taxes that voters propose would need two-thirds of the votes, not a majority. This starts January 1, 2027.
The strongest case for and against
Strongest case for
Supporters include the California Taxpayers Association, the Family Business Association of California and the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce. They say California families face the highest income, sales and gas taxes in the nation. Supporters argue that court decisions created loopholes in Proposition 13 that let special interests pass large tax increases. They say local governments have imposed over 2,000 new or higher taxes in the past decade. Supporters argue these taxes raise the cost of food, gas, utilities and housing. They say some cities charge real estate transfer taxes as high as 6%. Supporters argue Prop 43 restores the two-thirds vote for local special taxes. Supporters also say it requires governments to spend tax money for the specific purpose voters approved.
Strongest case against
Opponents include the California Professional Firefighters, the California Federation of Teachers and the Nurse Alliance of SEIU California. Opponents say Prop 43 does not cut anyone's taxes. Opponents argue it lets just 33.4% of voters block what nearly 67% want, so a no vote counts twice as much as a yes. They say it would make it harder to fund fire stations, 911 response, wildfire safety, road repair, schools and local health care as Washington cuts health funding. Opponents argue it would let a small minority block local efforts to build affordable homes. They say corporate donors who spend big in elections would benefit most. Opponents argue that today, when local voters decide how to fund their communities, the majority rules, and Prop 43 takes that away.