LETTERS: PROPOSITION 13 IN CALIFORNIA WAS A LESSON FOR HANCOCK II

To the editor:

This letter is in response to a recent opinion printed in Speak Out about the impact that Proposition 13 had in California. As a former resident of California and casualty of the infamous Proposition 13 I feel compelled to respond to the misconceptions created by the caller.

Proposition 13 was an economic nightmare, and Hancock II will be even worse. According to a research study on the effects of 13, completed 12 months after its passage, the tax burden was shifted from business to individuals. In Los Angeles County, for example, prior to 13 local homeowners paid 54 percent and commercial property owners paid 36 percent of taxes. A year later homeowners were carrying 72 percent while the burden of business had dropped to 28 percent.

Because of the passage of 13 the federal government took in more than $2 billion each year in additional payments from California taxpayers, while at the same time, the state lost millions of dollars in revenue-sharing.

The Government Accounting Office reported that over 18,000 state employees were laid off and that the local government work force was reduced by over 112,000 people. This meant that local and state services were severely curtailed. There were cutbacks in law enforcement, firefighting facilities, prisons, education and other types of services.

There were massive increases in user fees as the result of Proposition 13. According to the Cal-Tax Research Bulletin, issued just four months after 13's passage, user and license fees increased by over $100 million. And all of this occurred as a result of Proposition 13. It is no wonder that California is now faced with gigantic budget deficits.

I can still remember when my city was forced to decrease neighborhood police patrols. My parents are still living with the effects of Proposition 13 in California. As a retired older couple, they no longer feel safe taking a short evening walk in their own neighborhood. They have even considered moving to Missouri. Based on my own personal experience, I believe that Proposition 13 lowered the quality of life in California. Protect Missouri's future. Please vote no on Amendment 7.

DR. MICHAEL A. WEATHERSON

Cape Girardeau