As written, the ``automatic reassessment'' provision in Proposition 13 is unfair--not just to people who inherit homes from relatives--but especially to people who have purchased a home since the base year (1975) and to everyone who might wish to purchase a home in today's inflated housing market.
The provision also hits RENTERS: every time property changes hands, taxes go up and the rent follows.
Because Proposition 13 is part of our state's constitution, it can only be changed ``by a majority of votes'' cast in a statewide election on an amendment proposed either by the Legislature (``two-thirds membership of each house'') or by initiative petition (Article XVIII of the California Constitution).
We need an amendment that makes the system fairer and can gain ``a majority of votes'' in a statewide election.
For years, some legislators have talked about taxing business property at a higher rate. Another way to address the unfair shift of the property tax burden to residential owners (and renters) would be to periodically re-assess all business property--regardless of whether it changes hands.
Taxing businesses differently would not remedy the unfairness of one homeowner paying 10 times as much as a neighbor. This unfairness could be eliminated by periodically re-assessing all residential property while AUTOMATICALLY LOWERING THE TAX RATE so that government would not get more money just because residential property values increase.
GARY B. WESLEY
Attorney at Law