SVACR Meeting 3/27/2024

Join Our Breakfast Meeting on March 27th

California has a $68 BILLION Deficit?!?Who’s Gonna Pay for That?

We keep hearing about the great “California Exodus” and census figures show we’ve lost an alarming number of residents over the past couple years. And those leaving are typically upper-income citizens who, even if not billionaires, still generate a lot of income tax revenue.

Enter the wizards from Sacramento; recently our Assembly, led by a couple of our local yokels Alex Lee and Ash Kalra, came up with a stroke of brilliance – let’s tax the rich! This bill would have imposed a 1.5% annual wealth tax on the entirenet worth of wealthy California residents. And there was even a clawback clause for anyone naïve enough to think they could actually leave Hotel California. This proposed constitutional amendment would, among other things, effectively sweep away Proposition 13’s limits on taxing property, affecting most all of us.

Fortunately, this first in the nation wealth tax is so radical and unpopular that even the Democrats rejected it and soon it landed in the “suspense” file where bad bills go to die.

Coincidentally, the same day the wealth tax was introduced, Gov. Newsom released his proposed annual budget. The Legislative Analysts calculated a $68 billion deficit in funding today’s government but miraculously Newsom eliminated enough goods and services in his budget that his deficit is “only” $38 billion. Not clear where that $30 billion haircut came from, but hey, it sounds a lot better than $68 billion, right? Seriously though, we’ve got a problem which by all indications will require higher tax revenues. But where do the tax experts expect this money to come from?

Jon Coupal is the President of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association (HJTA). HJTA is the largest taxpayers’ association in California with a membership of over 200,000. Founded by the late Howard Jarvis, the author of Proposition 13, HJTA’s name is synonymous with tax relief and the uncompromising defense of the California homeowner.

Jon Coupal is a recognized attorney and expert in California fiscal affairs and has argued numerous tax cases before the courts. He’s been a pivotal author and champion of legislation that guarantees our right to vote on taxes, although there are challenges today, so his work is not finished. He’s also a columnist and frequent guest on TV and radio discussing fiscal policy and political issues.

You won’t want to miss this fascinating insight into our financial trainwreck and how it can be fixed, so sign up today!

Date:   Wednesday, March 27th

Time:  Check in begins at 8:30 AM — Breakfast served at 9:00 AM,

Cost:  $25 for non-members, $20 for members, FREE to Premium Members (Reagan and Sponsors)-  Cost includes buffet breakfast.

Click here to sign up!

Opt Out of Teacher and Other Government Unions

Want more money in your paycheck? Leave your UNION now!
How To Opt Out of Government Unions

Each two-year election cycle, public sector unions (including Teacher Unions) spend over $600 million on political campaigning and lobbying in CALIFORNIA!  Those funds are essentially taxpayer dollars harvested from the checks of teachers, state, county, city, and other government workers.

For the individual government worker, like a teacher who pays $1200 a year, this means that over a “30 year career” they could easily pay $36,000 in union dues.  That is $36,000 deducted from their pay checks that could be invested for retirement.

For a teacher who believes schools shouldn’t teach children to be sexualized at an early age, this means that the unions are using TAXPAYER DOLLARS deducted from your paycheck and that of other government workers to push legislation and elect left-wing politicians working against the best interests of families and the children you teach.

In 2018, the United State Supreme Court issued its decision in Janus v. American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Council 31. This landmark decision clarified and articulated public employees’ constitutional rights to choose not to pay union dues and fees.

For workers who are clinging to the unions to protect them from potential liability, there are alternative organizations who provide that liability insurance at a much lower cost.  Membership in these alternative organizations run from $234 to $400 per year vs $1200 per year in union dues.

Print out flyer for more details: How To Opt Out of Government Unions

Valley Water District Parcel Tax Exemption for Seniors

https://www.valleywater.org/safe-clean-water-and-natural-flood-protection-program/low-income-senior-parcel-tax-exemption

Low-Income Senior Parcel Tax Exemption

Are you 65 years old or older? Live in your own home as your primary residence?

Valley Water offers an exemption for qualifying low-income seniors from the Safe, Clean Water special parcel tax. The tax was renewed and approved by the voters in November 2020.

The application period for the 2023 Low-Income Senior Exemption Safe Clean Water Tax is April 15, 2023 – June 30, 2023.

Program Requirements for 2023

You could be exempt from the tax if you meet all of the following criteria:

  • You were born before June 30, 1959.
  • Your total household income for 2022 was below 63,680. Total household income is the total gross income for every person over 18 years old who lives in the home. It excludes capital gains.
  • You live in and own the home the tax is assessed on.

Visit this link for more details and application.

https://www.valleywater.org/safe-clean-water-and-natural-flood-protection-program/low-income-senior-parcel-tax-exemption

Get School Parcel Tax Exemption if 65+ or Disabled

Click here to find if your school district offers an exemption from Parcel TAX and how to claim it.

If you do not live in Santa Clara County, check with your county’s Department of Tax and Collections.

A Lesson Learned from 2022 School Board Races
You can take this to the Bank!

We had 16 great candidates who ran for school board seats in November.  They all worked hard learning to raise money (gulp!), campaign and recruit volunteers.  Unbelievably, most of their opponents did practically NOTHING to get elected!

The Santa Clara County Democrat Party and their Teacher Union cohorts fiercely attacked our efforts. Our conservative candidates were accused of “infiltrating school boards” as if running for office was subversive activity.

Lesson Learned

Candidates backed by the Teacher Unions did not have to do much to get elected.   The Teacher Unions did all the heavy lifting and funding of those campaigns. With names like Union District Educators Association and Cambrian District Teachers Association, these unions sound like they care about children.  Most voters are fooled.  The Teacher Unions must control how the SCHOOL BOARD TRUSTEES vote for several reasons:

  • MILLIONS of dollars in contracts are voted on each year by the school boards.  It I imperative that these contracts go to UNION SHOPS.
  • Teacher compensation packages are negotiated and approved by the school boards.  Teacher Unions are electing the school board trustees who will give them what they want!
  • Teacher Unions promote and help pass School Bond Measures.  Bonds can only be used for “building” projects like new roofs, air conditioning, paving, etc.  The more building projects the more contracts that go to UNION shops.

You Can Take this Information to the Bank

To ensure that a bond measure passes, most include a provision exempting homeowners who are disabled or 65+ from paying the assessed parcel tax. YOU MUST BE PROACTIVE AND REQUEST THE EXEMPTION FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

For Santa Clara County homeowners, follow the link below.  It lists the school districts and provides a contact information for requesting the exemption:

https://dtac.sccgov.org/services/property-taxes/parcel-tax-exemptions