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Is California really a low property tax state?

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Is California really a low property tax state?


Is California really a low property tax state?

Spoiler alert: the answer to that question is no. But even if you suspected this to be true, it doesn’t hurt to understand why. 

Prior to the passage of Prop. 13 in 1978, the average property tax rate in California was about 2.6%. In addition to this high tax rate, California, like most states, imposed the tax annually on the market value of property. Because California’s real estate market was robust throughout the 70’s, market values grew rapidly, and property tax bills skyrocketed.

Prop. 13 cut property taxes in a very significant way. It reduced by more than half the property tax rate – capping it at 1% – but also limited increases in taxable value to 2% annually.

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The fact that property taxes were cut so dramatically might explain why so many assume that California is a low property tax state. This assumption – more of a myth now – is perpetuated by tax-and-spend interests who argue incessantly for higher taxes.

But here are the facts: 

When it comes to total property tax collections, California ranks 19th out of the 50 states, according to the authoritative Tax Foundation. The “per capita” calculation is important because it refutes the argument advanced by progressives that California does not generate sufficient revenue for local government services. 

In response, tax-and-spend interests point to another Tax Foundation metric, which shows California ranking a relatively low 33rd in property taxes paid as a percentage of owner-occupied housing value. But this doesn’t prove that the state is tax-starved. It demonstrates that Prop. 13 achieves two seemingly conflicting policy outcomes: Generating above average revenue for local government services while protecting homeowners from being taxed out of their homes.

California’s “effective” property tax rate is less than one percent (.75%) because of Prop 13’s 2% limit on annual increases. (The longer one stays in a house, the more likely that the market value will exceed the assessed value). Contrast this with Texas where the “effective” property tax rate is 1.68%, almost double that of California. Taken in isolation, one would have to wonder why so many Californians are moving to Texas. The answer is simple: If property taxes were all that California collected, Texans would be moving here, not the other way around. (Texas has a top income tax rate of zero while California’s is the highest in the nation at 13.3%). More importantly, because housing is far more expensive in California, two identical houses, one in Houston and one in the Bay Area, could have wildly different property tax bills rendering meaningless the “effective” tax rate measurement. 

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The Tax Foundation explains this: “Some states with high property taxes, like New Hampshire and Texas, rely heavily on them in lieu of other major tax categories. This often involves greater devolution of authority to local governments, which are responsible for more government services than they are in states with greater reliance on state-level revenues like income or sales taxes.” No sane Texan would trade that state’s total tax structure for California’s. 

Another major consideration in determining if California is a high or low property tax state is something missed by all the traditional comparisons. Those comparisons only measure the traditional ad valorem (based on value) property tax which, as mentioned above, is limited to one percent in California. But California imposes many more taxes and levies that appear on the property tax bill beyond the ad valorem tax. And those add up. Don’t believe us? Just look at your property tax bill. 

Parcel taxes and a myriad of bond levies appear on virtually every property tax bill issued in California. In many jurisdictions, the “below the line” taxes and fees exceed the ad valorem levy. In 2014, the California Taxpayers Foundation compiled data on the prevalence of parcel taxes revealing about $2 billion statewide. Since that report is a decade old it is likely that that figure has doubled. 

While California homeowners might not fully understand all the complexities of existing data related to property taxes and all the comparative metrics, the best test is to simply ask, do you want to pay higher property taxes?  How many Californians would answer that in the affirmative? 

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Jon Coupal is president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association.



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California

California Politics 360 Full Episode | $13M placed in bets on CA governor’s race

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California Politics 360 Full Episode | M placed in bets on CA governor’s race


Ashley Zavala sits down with Sacramento Assembly Member Maggy Krell about what more she says should be done.

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California Politics 360 Full Episode | $13M placed in bets on CA governor’s race

Ashley Zavala sits down with Sacramento Assembly Member Maggy Krell about what more she says should be done.

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California Politics 360 Full Episode | $13M placed in bets on CA governor’s race

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Ashley Zavala sits down with Sacramento Assembly Member Maggy Krell about what more she says should be done.

Updated: 8:25 AM PDT Apr 5, 2026

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At least $13 million has been placed in bets on the California governor’s race. In a state that doesn’t allow online sports betting, why are people allowed to bet on politics? The two most popular betting and prediction sites – Kalshi & Polymarket – are facing a flurry of lawsuits. Last week, Washington filed a lawsuit against Kalshi. Last month, Arizona’s attorney general filed criminal charges against the company. This week, California Sen. Adam Schiff joined three other senators in proposing legislation to block insiders from betting. Gov. Newsom also made some moves on the state level, banning state employees or his appointees and their family members from making bets on these sites using state information. Ashley Zavala sits down with Sacramento Assembly Member Maggy Krell about what more she says should be done. This year, California voters will decide who they want to be their next governor. Every week leading to the June primary, we will hear from one of the top 10 candidates running for the state’s highest position. This week, Ashley Zavala sat down with Republican Steve Hilton to get his thoughts on the major issues impacting Californians. New changes went into effect this week, impacting who is eligible for CalFresh. Ashley Zavala sits down with the Executive Director of the County Welfare Directors Association, Carlos Marquez III. We take a closer look at the responsibilities for California’s Insurance Commissioner ahead of the June primary.KCRA 3 Political Director Ashley Zavala reports in-depth coverage of top California politics and policy issues. She is also the host of “California Politics 360.” Get informed each Sunday at 8:30 a.m. on KCRA 3.

At least $13 million has been placed in bets on the California governor’s race. In a state that doesn’t allow online sports betting, why are people allowed to bet on politics?

The two most popular betting and prediction sites – Kalshi & Polymarket – are facing a flurry of lawsuits. Last week, Washington filed a lawsuit against Kalshi. Last month, Arizona’s attorney general filed criminal charges against the company.

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This week, California Sen. Adam Schiff joined three other senators in proposing legislation to block insiders from betting. Gov. Newsom also made some moves on the state level, banning state employees or his appointees and their family members from making bets on these sites using state information.

Ashley Zavala sits down with Sacramento Assembly Member Maggy Krell about what more she says should be done.

This year, California voters will decide who they want to be their next governor. Every week leading to the June primary, we will hear from one of the top 10 candidates running for the state’s highest position. This week, Ashley Zavala sat down with Republican Steve Hilton to get his thoughts on the major issues impacting Californians.

New changes went into effect this week, impacting who is eligible for CalFresh. Ashley Zavala sits down with the Executive Director of the County Welfare Directors Association, Carlos Marquez III.

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We take a closer look at the responsibilities for California’s Insurance Commissioner ahead of the June primary.


KCRA 3 Political Director Ashley Zavala reports in-depth coverage of top California politics and policy issues. She is also the host of “California Politics 360.” Get informed each Sunday at 8:30 a.m. on KCRA 3.

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Loved ones search for missing 15-year-old Southern California girl 

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Loved ones search for missing 15-year-old Southern California girl 


Loved ones are searching for a Southern California girl who has been missing for more than six months.

Keylin Reyes-Moreno, 15, was reported missing on Sept. 22, 2025, according to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC).

Reyes-Moreno was last seen in the Pacoima area.

She is 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighs 120 pounds. She has brown hair and dark brown eyes.

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Keylin Reyes-Moreno, 15, was last seen in Pacoima on Sept. 22, 2025. (National Center for Missing & Exploited Children)

She may have been heading to the Los Angeles area when she disappeared.

Her family did not mention any health or mental issues that would’ve contributed to her disappearance. They have not heard from her since and are very concerned for her well-being.

Anyone who may know Keylin Reyes-Moreno’s whereabouts or has information on the case is asked to call NCMEC at 1-800-843-5678 or the Los Angeles Police Department at 877-275-5273.



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Springs Fire in southern California reaches 45% containment as evacuations continue

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Springs Fire in southern California reaches 45% containment as evacuations continue


RIVERSIDE, Calif. — Crews were making progress Saturday battling a fast-growing and smoky wildfire in southern California that broke out Friday morning, prompting mandatory evacuations and warnings.

Now encompassing roughly 6.3 square miles (about 16 square kilometers) east of Moreno Valley in Riverside County, the Springs Fire was 45% percent contained on Saturday, according to a state website. It was 25% contained on Friday.

More than a dozen zones in the county remained under mandatory evacuation orders or evacuation warnings, while six have been dropped. It was not immediately known how many households were affected by the orders.

Firefighters were battling strong winds. The National Weather Service issued an advisory for 15 mph to 20 mph winds, with gusts up to 45 mph, into Saturday afternoon. An air quality alert has also been issued for harmful fine particle pollution levels due to wildfire smoke.

Hundreds of people have been battling the blaze using helicopters, engines and water tenders. It’s located in a populated unincorporated part of Riverside County, in a recreational area near the city of Moreno Valley, which has a population of roughly 200,000. The city is 10 miles southeast of Riverside and 64 miles east of Los Angeles.



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