Local measures that raise taxes to fund local priorities, like the Regional Transit Measure on this November’s ballot, have two ways to get on the ballot. If the governing body places the measure up for a citizen vote and the money is dedicated to a specific purpose, it needs a two-thirds majority (roughly 66.67%) to become law. If the measure is placed on the ballot by citizen initiative — collecting signatures — it only needs 50% plus one vote to pass. 

Proposition 43 on the November ballot would require a two-thirds majority for all measures that raise local taxes and would limit local governments’ ability to levy additional property taxes. 

If Prop 43 passes, it will impede Californians’ ability to raise future revenue to support critical local infrastructure — like transit, schools, or affordable housing.

Here’s everything you need to know to help build momentum for a NO vote on Prop 43.

Who’s behind Prop 43?

Looking at who supports or opposes a ballot measure tells you a lot about the intention behind it. Prop 43 was put on the ballot by the legislature as a compromise to replace an even more noxious measure authored by the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association.

You’ll remember that Howard Jarvis was the anti-tax crusader who passed Prop 13, which limits property tax increases on residential and commercial properties. That proposition, especially the part excluding some commercial property transfers from a step-up in tax basis, has severely impacted California’s ability to fund its public school system. California pre-K-12 schools went from among the best in the nation to #41 in the most recent U.S. News and World Report ranking.

If you want a comprehensive look at the effects of Prop 13, this joint reporting project from 2018 is a good place to start.

What’s wrong with a two-thirds majority to pass an initiative?

The majority of Bay Area voters support progressive funding measures for projects like affordable housing and transit, and these measures often gain more than 50% approval. However, getting two-thirds of voters to agree is an impossibly high bar. The 66.67% requirement allows a small minority of voters the power to veto commonsense policy. 

Prop 43 would impact public goods and community well-being

No one likes paying taxes, but taxes to fund the services we all rely on — and even those we don’t use — are the foundation of a functioning community. People who never take transit still benefit from the reduction in traffic congestion due to all the cars taken off the road by public trains and buses, and those who rely on transit are able to access jobs, education, healthcare, and other services.

Prop 43 would underfund public services, widening the gap between rich and poor. High-income families can send their children to private schools, while those who can’t afford private school tuition are stuck in public schools. With fewer families relying on public education, community investment in improving schools suffers, which can lead to a vicious cycle of decline. The same is true for a broad range of community amenities: road maintenance, public transportation, public libraries, and on and on.

If we want government services that work for all of us, we must be willing to pay for them. That means balancing the tax burdens on residents, particularly those who can afford to pay, with the need for healthy, functional communities — without making it close to impossible to pass any new tax measures.

How will Prop 43 affect the Regional Transit Measure?

Thanks to the hard work of many volunteers, our coalition was able to put the Regional Transit Measure on the ballot by collecting more than 240,000 signatures across the five Bay Area counties where it will be on the ballot. The measure, which adds a half-percent sales tax (1% in San Francisco), will use the revenue to provide stable funding for BART and many other local and regional transit agencies, so riders don’t lose the trains and buses they need to get around. Funds will also be allocated to improving transit service and reliability.

Collecting signatures allowed us to put the measure on the ballot as a citizen’s initiative. If it gets 50% + one vote or more, it passes. If the legislature had placed it on the ballot, it would have needed 66.67% to pass.

Even if Prop 43 passes, it won’t be effective retroactively and won’t affect the success of the Regional Transit Measure. But it will affect future measures.

What percentage of the vote does Prop 43 need to pass?

If more than 50% vote yes on Prop 43, it passes.

It seems like that number should be two-thirds, doesn’t it?

Please VOTE NO on Proposition 43. Don’t block funding for vital community needs.