Vet Property Tax Relief Bill Gets Shelved
On July 13, the Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee sent SB 2-Anderson (R-Alpine). SB 2 sought to provide relief to Veterans Halls for property tax by clarifying the Veterans Property Tax exemption already in law.
The Revenue and Taxation Committee voted to effectively kill the bill by sending it to the Suspense file. Three Republicans and one Democrat voted to keep it off the Suspense file and have a roll call vote on the bill taken, but were defeated by the committee's chairman and the rest of the committee members. The Assemblymembers who supported us were: Bill Brough (R-Dana Point), Jim Patterson (R-Fresno), Donald Wagner (R-Irvine), and Roger Hernandez (D-West Covina).
The committee consultants determined that the bill would cost the state $575,000 in lost tax revenue. The committee also equated veterans groups to fraternal groups such as the Elks and Rotary; saying that if the state provides this exemption to veterans, it would have to extend it to other groups. The committee totally ignored the fact that veterans, who put their lives on the line to protect our liberty, should be deserving of this exemption and are unique in light of their service to our country. This exemption has been in state law for decades, but over the years tax authorities have made their own interpretations of it. SB 2 sought to clarify it and make it reflect the original intent of the exemption.
It is still within the realm of the possible to get the bill out of the Suspense file if veterans across the state can apply enough pressure to the committee members who voted No to change their minds and allow the bill to move through the committee.
The veterans in these areas should contact these legislators who voted to kill the bill and tell them to:
"Please explain why you voted against SB 2? SB 2 needs to come off of Suspense and the bill needs to pass through the Revenue and Taxation Committee. California's veterans want this bill to become law. We need this bill to allow veterans posts and halls to survive into the future".
These legislators are in their districts full time until August 17. Please contact them ASAP.
Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), Committee Chairman. 415-557-2312
Kevin Mullin (D-South San Francisco). 650-349-2200
Bill Quirk (D-Hayward). 510-583-8818
Mike Gipson (D-Carson). 310-233-1201
Matthew Dababneh (D-Encino). 818-904-3840
Thank you,
Pete Conaty and Associates
Governmental Relations
1107 9th Street, Suite 530
Sacramento, CA 95814
o- (916) 492-0550
f- (916) 492-8957
www.peteconaty.com
