Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association

A measure to eliminate Los Angeles' 'mansion tax' (Measure ULA) was removed from the November ballot after a deal in Sacramento led to a substitute measure that would raise the vote threshold for special taxes. The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association celebrated the deal, while real estate groups expressed disappointment as existing transfer taxes remain unaffected.

A controversial real estate tax-cut proposal was removed from California’s November ballot in a last-minute compromise, replaced by a constitutional amendment requiring higher voter approval for local taxes. The deal involved Governor Gavin Newsom’s office, legislative leaders, and the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, who agreed to withdraw their original measure in exchange for the new amendment.

The L.A. City Council approved placing a half-cent sales tax measure on the November ballot to fund the fire department. The tax would raise $345 million annually, sponsored by the United Firefighters of Los Angeles City union, which collected 225,000 petition signatures. Opponents argue the fire department should be prioritized in existing budgets rather than requiring a tax increase.

Los Angeles City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto has delayed signing a $177 million tenant aid contract for months, causing $17 million in emergency rental assistance to remain unused and threatening services for at-risk tenants. City leaders, including Councilmember Ysabel Jurado, are demanding explanations and a 30-day report on the delay, which Feldstein Soto attributes to a need for competitive bidding. Tenant aid providers warn that prolonged delays could force layoffs and halt eviction case support.

California's real estate transfer taxes in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Santa Monica, intended to fund affordable housing, have reduced housing production and revenues. The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association's proposed 'Local Taxpayer Protection Act' aims to eliminate these taxes and raise approval thresholds for new funding, threatening local government finances.

A Los Angeles City Council committee voted to shelve a proposed ballot measure that would have cut the 'mansion tax' rate for multifamily and mixed-use properties from 5.5% to 2-3.5%. Instead, the committee advanced a narrower pilot program to reduce the tax for newly built affordable housing. The decision avoids voter approval for the broader tax cut but leaves open the possibility of a separate proposal to repeal the tax entirely.