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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q. I recently purchased a new home. My taxes are twice that of my neighbor who bought his home many years ago. What is Proposition 13 doing for me?
A. Under proposition you will only be taxed 1% of your purchase price and that can only be increased by 2% a year after that. Proposition 13 offers new home owners "predictability" as to future taxes. WIth house values increasing, should your neighbor sell his house in 5 years, your taxes will be less than what the new owner will pay.

Q. What is the difference between an initiative and a referendum?
A. An initiative is the power of the people to enact laws. Any law that the legislature can enact may be placed on the ballot by petition of the people. A referendum is the power of the people to vote on any law the legislature passes. Should any group not like a law passed by the legislature, they may circulate a petition and if they can obtain enough signatures that bill will be placed on a ballot and presented to all the people to vote on. For more information, see Powers Reserved to the People .

Q. I want to sell my home and purchase a smaller home in another county. Can I keep my Prop 13 assement?
A. Policy differs in the various counties on this subject. You should call the assessors office in the county you wish to buy in before you purchase your new home. Ask to talk to the assessment standards person.

Q. Why don't People's Advocate and the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association (HJTA) join forces and merge together?
A. Each organization has different issues which it addresses as well as some common ones.

The Howard Jarvis organization was founded by Howard Jarvis in Los Angeles and People's Advocate was founded by Paul Gann in Sacramento. When Jarvis and Gann decided to take on Prop 13, the property tax initiative, they formed a coalition but retained their own autonomy. Although they worked very closely together to push Prop 13 into law, they were nevertheless separate organizations working toward one goal: to reduce the property taxes of property owners. Prior to the joint venture, such a enormous undertaking by just one organization would not have been possible. After that historic effort, they never saw any reason to amalgamate the two organizations. In fact, they both believed they could better serve the taxpayers as separate entities. Since that time both Howard Jarvis and Paul Gann have died but their organizations live on as extremely effective keepers of the beleaguered tax payer.

HJTA continues to focus primarily on Prop 13. People's Advocate -- while continuing to protect Prop 13 anytime a threat is made-- works to educate our members on public policy, and also has worked on other issues as well. See Our History page.

Although People's Advocate and the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association have similar aims, we believe, as did Mr. Jarvis and Mr. Gann, the two organizations can better serve the taxpayer by remaining separate so as to allow for more varied policy options. It is more important to have as many groups as possible fighting taxes and government waste so the movement will retain widespread notoriety and strike fear into the minds of public officials everywhere. With several groups studying the problems we face, more diversity and ingenuity will inevitably surface.

Rest assured, those of us with common goals unite when the cause requires it.