The initiative still needs enough signatures of support to be put in front of voters on the November ballot
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California voters could be asked during the November election whether homeowners age 60 and older should be exempt from paying property taxes on their primary residences.
This is the proposal of a ballot measure, just cleared by California’s Secretary of State to gather signatures in support.
Supporters say such a move would help seniors stay in their homes, but critics warn it could, on the contrary, devastate local government budgets.
If approved by voters, the measure would eliminate property taxes for eligible seniors who have lived in their homes for at least five years or have resided in California for at least a decade.
“We see the movement happening across the country,” said Rishi Kumar, the initiative’s proponent. “There are 16 states that have already done something to address the angst of seniors.”
Kumar said the measure is designed to be simple, with minimal eligibility requirements, and argued it would prevent older Californians from being displaced by rising housing costs.
But county officials and fiscal analysts warn the proposal would come at a steep cost to local governments. Property taxes generate about $100 billion annually statewide, according to a fiscal impact analysis of the measure by the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office, and are the largest funding source for counties and public schools.
The analyst’s office estimates the measure could reduce local revenues by $12 billion to $20 billion per year, with losses increasing over time.
“It would eviscerate services in communities up and down the state,” said Graham Knaus, CEO of the California State Association of Counties. “Public safety, elections, parks, infrastructure — counties often have no other funding source for those services.”
Kumar acknowledged there could be a short-term revenue loss but said local governments could adjust through what he described as “belt tightening” and that the savings returned to seniors would circulate back into local economies.
“When you look at the money going back into the pockets of seniors, they’re going to spend it in the local community,” Kumar said.
He describes the proposal as a “Proposition 13 Part Two,” arguing that the landmark 1978 property tax measure does not go far enough to protect seniors. Proposition 13 caps property tax increases at 2% annually, based on a home’s purchase price.
“Proposition 13 gives homeowners predictability and dependability,” said Scott Kaufman of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association.
Knaus argued that under Proposition 13, state law already offers seniors in need an exemption to property taxes.
Questions have also been raised about Kumar’s political motivations. He ran in a 2024 special election for Santa Clara County assessor, campaigning heavily on the same idea. We asked Kumar.
“It doesn’t matter whether I’m in office or running for office. This is a core component to what I seek to do,” he responded. Kumar also noted he has not ruled out running for the full-term for county assessor in the 2026 election.
Political analysts note the measure faces a significant hurdle in qualifying for the ballot. Kumar must collect nearly 875,000 valid signatures by Aug. 4.
“I hope he has a sugar daddy, because it’s going to be expensive,” said political analyst Steve Swatt. “The question is whether he can get enough signatures to qualify.”
If successful, the proposal would place a sweeping and controversial tax policy question before California voters next year.
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