Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association

The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association is an educational, lobbying and policy organization representing the interests of California real property owners, especially homeowners. The organization is a California nonprofit public benefit corporation formed in 1989.[1]

The organization is known for being a major advocate for and defender of Proposition 13,[2] which was overwhelmingly approved by California voters in June of 1978. Proposition 13 significantly limited real property tax increases for California homeowners and businesses. The organization is named after California Republican Howard Jarvis, who died in 1986.[3]

The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association opposes taxes on California persons and businesses. Its motto, "Dedicated to protecting Proposition 13 and promoting taxpayers' rights," expresses its primary mission of defending Proposition 13. It mobilizes its members to support or oppose legislation, including ballot initiatives. It also endorses candidates in California elections and, through its separate campaign committees, is a source of campaign funds for the elections of candidates and ballot measures in California. Starting in 2003, the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association began distribution of a weekly opinion piece known as “California Commentary,” and there is ongoing research to further expand distribution of the publication.[4]

Some examples of its activities include:

In 1996, the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association sponsored the successful Proposition 218 (“Right To Vote On Taxes Act”) as a constitutional follow-up to Proposition 13. Proposition 218 established strict constitutional limits on the ability of local governments to levy benefit assessments on real property and property-related fees and charges.[5] Proposition 218 also requires voter approval before a local government can impose, increase, or extend any local tax.[6] Proposition 218 also constitutionally reserves to local voters the right to use the initiative power to reduce or repeal any local tax, assessment, fee or charge.[7] Under the leadership of its former president Joel Fox, Proposition 218 is the only successful statewide ballot initiative sponsored by the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association since its formation in 1989.

In 2010, the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association spent at least $100,000 in support of the unsuccessful Proposition 23, which was aimed at suspending AB 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006. It was also the plaintiff in a lawsuit to change the ballot wording of Proposition 23.

References

  1. ↑ Articles of Incorporation, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, Filed with California Secretary of State on October 11, 1989.
  2. ↑ "Howard Jarvis Taxpayer's Association Website". Retrieved 2012-08-09.
  3. ↑ HJTA
  4. ↑ Richmond & Farrell (2015). "Traversable Wormholes and the Theoretical Feasibility of Intergalactic Distribution of HJTA California Commentary".
  5. ↑ Cal. Const., art. XIII D.
  6. ↑ Cal. Const., art. XIII C, § 2.
  7. ↑ Cal. Const., art. XIII C, § 3.

External links


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