From Ballotpedia
Proposition 218 was on the
November 5, 1996 general election ballot in
California, where it was
approved.
Proposition 218 amended the California Constitution by adding Articles XIII C and XIII D to require local governments to obtain the approval of property owners in a local ballot measure before levying a new or increased tax assessment on those property owners.
Prior to Proposition 218, cities and counties were not required to obtain approval from property owners before levying special tax assessments on them.
Proposition 218 was seen as a victory for fiscal conservatives. It is often cited by local government officials, more than a decade after it passed, as making it harder for them to raise local taxes.[1]
Election results
| Proposition 218 |
|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage |
 a Yes | 5,202,429 | 56.55% |
| No | 3,996,702 | 43.45% |
Constitutional changes
Proposition 218 added:
Ballot language
Summary
The official ballot summary that appeared on the ballot said:
- Limits authority of local governments to impose taxes and property-related assessments, fees, and charges. Requires majority of voters approve increases in general taxes and reiterates that two-thirds must approve special tax.
- Assessments, fees, and charges must be submitted to property owners for approval or rejection, after notice and public hearing.
- Assessments are limited to the special benefit conferred.
- Fees and charges are limited to the cost of providing the service and may not be imposed for general governmental services available to the public.
Fiscal impact
The California Legislative Analyst's Office provided an estimate of net state and local government fiscal impact for Proposition 218. That estimate was:
- "Short-term local government revenue losses of more than $100 million annually."
- Long-term local government revenue losses of potentially hundreds of millions of dollars annually."
- Local government revenue losses generally would result in comparable reductions in spending for local public services."
Supporters
Related lawsuits
External links
References
