President’s message: Vote no on Proposition 15
By Jamie Johansson Farmers and ranchers take for granted theneed towork hardall theway through theendof the season—and that’s whatwe’ll need todo todefeat theproperty tax increaseon theNovember ballot, Proposition 15. In the days leading up to the election, you can expect to see ads, mailers and other materials claiming the initia-
You’ll see it onlymentions agricultural land. Youcouldalsoask thecountyassessorswhomust assess property for tax purposes. As Stanislaus County Assessor DonGaekle said: “Voters should realize that Prop15 exposes awide rangeof agricul- tural property tohigher taxes, including agricultural barns, milkingparlors,shops,hullingoperations, irrigationsystems,
fruitandnut treesandgrapevines,allofwhichare‘improve- ments’ andnotexcludedfromthedefinitionof ‘commercial and industrial real property’ under themeasure.” Even theproponentsbehindProposition15 recognized that. Their initial fact sheet used to say that Proposition15
See COMMENT, Page 3
tivewouldexempt agriculture from increased taxes under its split-roll scheme. Don’t believe it. If youhaven’t votedyet, youmay just now be turning your attention to the statewide measures on the November ballot. Proposition 15 would end longstanding prop- erty tax law, established under Proposition 13 in 1978, and allow local jurisdictions to reassess com- mercial and business properties at
CFBF Voter Guide 2020 General Election • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3
The California FarmBureau Federation Board of Directors adopted the following recommendations on statewide ballot measures that will be before California voters in the Nov. 3 general election.
Yes No
Yes No
Proposition 20—Criminal Penalties Amends state law to increase penalties for certain theft-related crimes, change nonviolent offender release and community-supervision practices, and require DNA collection from those convicted of certain misdemeanors. Proposition 21—Rent Control Allows cities and counties to impose rent control on most housingmore than 15 years old and to establish limits on rent increases for new residential tenants. Proposition 22—App-Based Drivers Repeals parts of a 2019 law, Assembly Bill 5, to reclassify drivers for app-based ride services as independent contractors. Proposition 23—Kidney Dialysis Clinics Requires kidney dialysis clinics to provide a li- censed physician on site while open and to obtain state approval before closing permanently; estab- lishes certain data-reporting requirements. Proposition 24—Consumer Privacy Expands data-privacy laws and rights; requires ad- ditional businesses to meet privacy requirements; creates an agency to help oversee and enforce
Proposition 14—Stem Cell Research Bonds Authorizes $5.5 billion in general-obligation bonds to fund stem-cell research for serious diseases. Proposition 15—Split-Roll Property Tax Creates a split-roll property tax that would reas- sess and raise taxes on commercial and indus- trial property, including agricultural facilities and improvements such as barns, dairies, vineyards, Repeals specific provisions of a 1996 measure, Proposition 209, that prohibited the state from providing preferential treatment ; allows use of affirmative action by public institutions, education and contracting if it meets a federal standard. Proposition 17—Voting by Paroled Felons Amends the state constitution to allow voting by people on parole for felony convictions. Proposition 18—Voting Age Allows 17-year-olds to vote in primary and special elections, if they would turn 18 before the subse- quent general election Proposition19—TaxesonHomes, InheritedProperty Alters tax rules on specific home purchases and on transfer of inherited properties; creates a fund to expand fire-suppression resources. orchards and processing plants. Proposition 16—Affirmative Action
Jamie Johansson
NEUTRAL
X
least every three years. California’s top agricultural organizations are united in strong opposition to Proposition 15 for a simple reason: It exposes a wide range of agricultural property to steep property tax increases at theworst possible time. But if you’ve heard from the initiative’s supporters, you might say, “Wait—doesn’t Prop 15 exempt agriculture?” The simple answer is no. Themorecomplexanswer—as therealways seems tobe with ballotmeasures—is that the special interests behind Proposition 15 exempted agricultural land, but failed to exempt other agricultural properties classifiedas “fixtures and improvements.” That may sound like a mere technicality—but under California tax law, “fixtures and improvements” includes almost everything on a farmbut the dirt, such as dairies, barns, irrigationsystems, processingplants,wineries, even mature fruit trees and grapevines. For many farms, these fixtures and improvements have been around for years or even decades. So when Proposition 15 reassesses them at current market value for property tax purposes, it will exposemany farmers to massive tax hikes. Don’t takemy word for it; check out themeasure itself.
X
X
X
NEUTRAL
X X
NEUTRAL
NEUTRAL
state consumer privacy laws. Proposition 25—Cash Bail
NEUTRAL
X
Abolishes California’s cash-bail system via refer- endum and replaces it with a process based on a pretrial risk assessment of suspects. A “no” vote on Proposition 25 keeps the cash-bail system in place.
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® Ag Alert
VOL. 47, NO. 38
October 21, 2020
THE WEEKLY
NEWSPAPER FOR CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURE
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Karen Olson- Director, Marketing and Communications Division Dave Kranz- Editor/Director, Publications and Media Relations Christine Souza- Assistant Editor Ching Lee- Assistant Editor Kevin Hecteman- Assistant Editor Karin Bakotich- Design Services Supervisor Jessica Cook- Graphic Artist Paula Erath- Graphic Artist Margaret Rodriguez- Operations/Production Manager Darla Quidachay- Production Assistant Chico Ochi- Administrative Supervisor GENERAL INFORMATION: (916) 561-5570 agalert@cfbf.com
Board of Directors (District 1) Al Stehly; (2) Andy Wilson; (3) Terry Munz; (4) Ken Doty; (5) Jenny Holtermann; (6) Craig Knudson; (7) Donny Rollin; (8) Richard Bianchi; (9) Tom Rogers; (10) JanGarrod; (11) JoeMartinez; (12) Paul Sanguinetti; (13) Ron Peterson; (14) Ken Mitchell ; (15) David Barhydt; (16) Mike Vereschagin; (17) Domenic Carinalli; (18) David Rosenthal; (19) TomStewart; (20) JimMorris; (21) Blake Alexandre; (Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee Chair) Jennifer Beretta. Advisory Members Ronnie Leimgruber, Chair, CFB Rural Health Department; Glenda Humiston, University of California Cooperative Extension. Letters to the editor: Send to agalert@cfbf.com or Ag Alert, Attn: Editor, 2600 River Plaza Drive, Sacramento, CA 95833. Include name, address, phone number, email address; 250-word limit.
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ADVERTISING: Chris Tedesco- Manager, Marketing and Business Development (916) 561-5656 Robert Foiles- Advertising Sales (916) 561‑5585 Classifieds: (916) 561-5576 2600 River Plaza Dr., Sacramento, CA 95833. Represented in the East and Midwest by J.L. Farmakis, Inc. Eastern office: Bill Farmakis 48 Topfield Rd., Wilton, CT 06897 (203) 834-8832; Fax: (203) 834-8825. Midwest office: Russ Parker , P.O. Box 7, Albia, IA 52531 (641) 946‑7646, Bob Brunker , 8209 NW 81st Ct., Kansas City, MO 64152 (816) 746-8814, Jennifer Saylor , 8426 N. Winfield Ave., Kansas City, MO 64153 (816) 912-2804, Laura Rustmann , 901 Lands End Cir, St. Charles MO 63304, (636) 238-8548. AG ALERT ( i ssn 0161 - 5408 ) i s pub l i shed weekly except weeks of Memorial Day, July 4,
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