Paying Forward: Responsible Tax Reform
Our goal is to increase civic literacy about state taxes, develop common understanding about our revenue system, and consult with Californians on potential reforms, especially those relating to increased local control of revenues.
The Latest: Learn about the tax reform proposals being considered by the Governor’s Commission on the 21st Century Economy.
A significant factor in the state’s money problems is the rollercoaster of the personal income tax, and the sales tax.
The state’s volatile revenue system has resulted in painful binge and purge (boom and bust) budgeting practices. The stalemate over the state’s chronic budget shortfall has been overshadowed by the global economic decline and sinking tax revenue.
The California Forward 21010 Reform Principles give communities more control over community-related services and prevents the state from siphoning off local revenue by giving local governments legal ownership of specific funds for community services.
The principles also allow cities, counties and school officials who craft long-term flexible plans to address community needs, to seek majority-vote approval to provide funds to pay for them, while retaining the vote thresholds established under Proposition 218. For more information about the California Forward 2010 Reform Principles, click here.
Simultaneous to the work of the bipartisan Commission on the 21st Century Economy, California Forward conducted a public education and engagement project to explore with Californians needed changes to the revenue system. The results of that project are reported in Discussing Tax Reform.
Please stand with us. Go to www.cafwd-action.org to help show the politicians in Sacramento that Californians are demanding real change.
