Base exemption on income, then it’s fair
A TAX FOR THE AGES … according to the county counsel’s “impartial” analysis of the Measure C parcel tax, “Persons who are 65 years of age or older and who occupy their parcels as a principal residence shall be exempt from the payment of the special tax upon application for exemption.” … in other words, you don’t get the exemption automatically, but it is there for the asking … which is, purely and simply, age discrimination … I don’t know how you can slice it any other way …
Whether these exemptions are created at the local, state or federal level, they unfairly use age as the sole criterion for special treatment … now, before you take this as an attack upon seniors, let me say I look forward to one day enjoying the “Early Bird Special” at Denny’s as much as the next guy … but, there is no evidence, in Davis at least, that seniors are an economically deprived class … many seniors, in fact, live exceedingly comfortable lifestyles … at least from a financial standpoint …
Additionally, as a group, senior homeowners are much more likely to have paid off their mortgages than those in any other age group … some have excellent pensions or long-ago astute investments that paid off handsomely … which is great … they earned it … they should be able to fully enjoy the fruits of their labor …
On the other hand, many seniors are struggling to make ends meet … join the club … even in this relatively affluent town of ours, a number of people are struggling, and they belong to just about every age group you can come up with …
So, if the intent of this sort of age-based special exemption is to help those for whom the tax is truly a hardship – and not just a crass attempt to gain the votes of those who might otherwise oppose whatever tax is on the ballot – then base the exemption on need, not age … on that basis, those seniors who need the exemption will be granted the exemption … and those who don’t need the exemption can pay the tax like everyone else … and the same for 30-year-olds and 40-year-olds and 50-year-olds who need the exemption …
With age out of the equation, the exemption suddenly becomes fair for everyone …
LET THEM EAT CAKE … lest you think I have it in for seniors (see above), I get just as incensed when I see all the discounts offered to UC Davis students, based on the faulty assumption that all students are economically disadvantaged and are working nights at the cannery in Woodland to put themselves through school …
Hey, when I see students lined up around the block at lunchtime, debit cards in hand, ready to gorge themselves on a moderately expensive sushi buffet, I have trouble buying into the “starving student” stereotype … one restaurant downtown boldly declares on a bright large banner that its lunch special is “$3 off for UCD students.” … hmmm, I wonder whose pocket that $3 is coming out of … if you guessed yours and mine, you would be correct …
REBUTTAL TO THE REBUTTAL … in case you missed the pitched battle between the two most vocal opponents of Measure C — Jose Granda and Tommy Randall — and former County Clerk Tony Bernhard, the judicially approved arguments against Measure C are now in the official Sample Ballot that should have arrived in your mailbox in the last several days … while the Yolo County Superior Court took some of the bite out of the No on C language, it did allow Granda and Randall to state their opinion that “If this measure passes, it will continue the demise of free public education.” …
In my mind, just the opposite is true … if this measure doesn’t pass, it may well contribute to the demise of free public education … we’re fortunate in Davis to have enough people who care so dearly about our schools that they’re willing to take out their wallets to help keep our schools afloat … the truly sad thing is that many districts around the state don’t have residents who are financially able to do the same for their kids …
— Reach Bob Dunning at bdunning@davisenterprise.net
Short URL: http://www.davisenterprise.com/?p=134499
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Posted by Bob Dunning
on Feb 7 2012.
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“Whether these exemptions are created at the local, state or federal level, they unfairly use age as the sole criterion for special treatment …”
State code allows only two exemptions for a school parcel tax — seniors and recipients of supplemental security income on account of disability. It doesn’t allow exemptions based on income level. Measure C renewal allows for both of those exemptions. This is the first time that a Davis school parcel tax measure has provided for the second exmption, SSI-disability recipients. The closest to accounting for income (possibly) is that apartments would continue to pay less ($120) than homes ($320). It’s not perfect, but it’s all we got.
“State code allows only two exemptions for a school parcel tax — seniors and recipients of supplemental security income on account of disability. It doesn’t allow exemptions based on income level.”
Perhaps the California Teachers Association, which runs the Democratic Party which runs our state, should change the state code?
It would be a simple fix. Government Code Section 50079 could be amended by adding a maximum income cap to the 2 permissible exemptions similar to the one that is used in Davis’ very own library parcel tax – 200% of poverty level for a family of four. Is any member of the California legislature willing to carry such a bill, or to add this minor change to another local government bill?