From the Redwoods to the beaches, parts of California soon may be inaccessible to visitors.
Under the cloud of the Golden State's current fiscal crisis, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger recently asked each department and agency in the state to reduce its budget by up to 10 percent. The Department of Parks and Recreation came up with a proposal that sent a shock wave through the state: Close 48 state parks and reduce lifeguards at some beaches to cut $8.8 million from the 2008-2009 state budget.
During the 90's the state cut the portion of car registration that is essentially a property tax. The state had lots of money rolling in due to people making the big buck off of stock, and could afford to cut that back.
Then Gray Davis tried to re-instate it when the state needed the money. The deregulation of energy was a fuckup that landed in Davis's lap, and he fucked it up worse -- but much of the hatred directed towards Davis was due to "raising the DMV fees".
Anyway, if Arnie would just re-instate the vehicle registration to the former levels, most of the gap in the state budget would be closed. But, he can't do that, or risk the wrath of voters.
As a property tax, the DMV administered property tax on cars is pretty darn fair IMHO. It's not like the little old lady whose house rises in value to the point that she can't cover the property tax (pre-Prop 13). If someone doesn't want to pay property tax on a $150,000 M-B, then don't buy one!
I say this as the owner of entirely too many vehicles, raise restore the fucking DMV fees!
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- bill 3-13-2008 5:28 pm
During the 90's the state cut the portion of car registration that is essentially a property tax. The state had lots of money rolling in due to people making the big buck off of stock, and could afford to cut that back.
Then Gray Davis tried to re-instate it when the state needed the money. The deregulation of energy was a fuckup that landed in Davis's lap, and he fucked it up worse -- but much of the hatred directed towards Davis was due to "raising the DMV fees".
Anyway, if Arnie would just re-instate the vehicle registration to the former levels, most of the gap in the state budget would be closed. But, he can't do that, or risk the wrath of voters.
As a property tax, the DMV administered property tax on cars is pretty darn fair IMHO. It's not like the little old lady whose house rises in value to the point that she can't cover the property tax (pre-Prop 13). If someone doesn't want to pay property tax on a $150,000 M-B, then don't buy one!
I say this as the owner of entirely too many vehicles,
raiserestore the fucking DMV fees!- mark 3-15-2008 1:51 am [add a comment]