California is in the middle of a budget crisis that is devastating our communities, compromising health and safety, and blocking the path to opportunity for young adults and low-income communities. Bend the Arc Bay Area’s primary campaign at this time is Progressive Taxation for the Common Good. Passing Proposition 30 in November is our immediate focus.
While the services Californians depend on, such as education, continue to be slashed because of budget cuts, the wealthiest Californians pay less in state income taxes than they did fifteen years ago, when those making above $250,000 per year paid 10 percent in state income tax and those making over $500,000 a year paid 11 percent. Now both groups pay just 9.3 percent. With increasing concentrations of wealth – the richest 1 percent of Americans now own more than a third of the country’s wealth – and setbacks for low-wage workers and young adults, it is time for higher-income Californians to pay their fair share.
We have a vision for a California that invests in the common good and we are partnering with other faith and community groups to further this vision. Join with us to help pass Proposition 30, The Schools & Local Public Safety Protection Act.
While we are actively engaged in California’s fight for tax fairness, Bend the Arc Jewish Action has launched a national campaign to end the Bush-era federal tax cuts for the top 2 percent income earners.
More on Proposition 30
Proposition 30 would:
- Prevent additional budget cuts by generating $6 to $9 billion in revenue each year, mostly through a small increase in income tax on the wealthiest Californians: 1 percent on households making $500,000 or more a year, 2 percent on those making $600,000 or more a year, and 3 percent on households making $1 million or more a year. This income tax would last for seven years.
- Raise the sales tax by ¼ cent for four years, amounting to a penny additional tax on a $4 burger; 90 percent of the revenue generated from this increase would come from those making over $500,000 a year.
- Protect funding for K-14 and early childhood education, and free up as much as $5.6 billion in general fund dollars to restore cuts to higher education, healthcare, childcare, and other critical services.
Why Proposition 30 Deserves Public Support
- Our families can’t succeed unless our schools have teachers, colleges are affordable, health care is obtainable, libraries stay open, and neighborhoods are safe.
- Proposition 30 would bring greater fairness to our tax code because 90 percent of the revenue would come from increased taxes on the wealthiest 2 percent who can most afford it.
- Proposition 30 would reinstate billions of dollars in cuts that were made in the last three years to the budgets of schools, libraries, healthcare and other essential services. But if it doesn’t pass, the state will automatically cut an additional $5 billion from these services.
Learn more about all of the California ballot propositions in our Voter Guide.
Take Action Now! Join Us to Organize for Tax Fairness
Please contact Liora Bay Area organizer Liora O’Donnell Goldensher lgoldensher@bendthearc.us to:
- Hold or a house meeting to engage your friends, family and community in this important issue. We will provide a trained facilitator.
- Help get out the vote: Sign up to get out the vote in the run-up to the November 6 election.