It’s easy for renters to tax owners

Another election, another bond measure. Voters always seem to focus on which manner of social ill needs fixing, which ballpark needs building or which high-speed rail project needs building. But what nobody seems to be concerned with is where the money comes from. It is here that I object with the bond-measure format.

A general-obligation bond is paid for by a tax agreed on by a majority vote. This tax usually takes the form of a temporary increase to our property taxes. My objection is that those with no property, like renters, can vote to levy a tax on those who own property.

Is it truly just when the public can vote to make me pay more taxes while a large segment of the voting population is largely exempt from having to pay the tax that they voted for?

And yes, I know renters would face a small increase from the property owners, but the lion’s share rests, as usual, with the homeowner.

This story was originally published June 27, 2016 at 2:30 PM with the headline "It’s easy for renters to tax owners."