Yesterday, our coalition took our message directly to the Capitol and took on the opposition and their lies head-on! Legislators heard from small business leaders, frontline health workers, and policy experts on how Schools & Communities First will invest in California’s recovery.

Meanwhile, opponents of Schools & Communities First -- backed by some of California’s largest corporations and wealthiest investors -- made MANY false claims. Will you help set the record straight so voters hear the truth about the initiative?

CLAIM: Schools & Communities First threatens homeowners and renters with increased property tax increases. FALSE: This is a scare tactic that’s been used over and over again by opponents, despite the fact that the initiative clearly exempts all residential property -- PolitiFact further proved this: “No, Californians aren’t being asked to repeal Prop. 13’s residential property tax limits.”
CLAIM: Small businesses are the target of this initiative. FALSE: Research has shown that 94% of the revenue would be generated by only 10% of the most valuable commercial and industrial properties in the state. Moreover, Schools & Communities First specifically exempts the owners of such properties worth $3 million or less.
CLAIM: Schools & Communities First will be too difficult to implement. FALSE: Nearly every state assesses corporations at fair market value, and there’s no reason we can’t do it here – especially as schools and local governments face historic budget shortfalls.
CLAIM: Assessors only get 18 months to implement this measure. FALSE: Schools & Communities First explicitly allows County Assessors 5 years to fully implement changes.
CLAIM: Corporations pay more property taxes than homeowners. FALSE: According to the Los Angeles Times, “the burden of property taxation shifted decisively onto residential owners from commercial and industrial properties over the last four decades.”

Clearly, our opponents — backed by special interests and big corporations — are getting nervous that people will learn the truth about Schools & Communities First: that our coalition wants to change the status quo so we can invest in what we all value, like our public schools and public health.

Schools & Communities First needs your support to share the truth about the initiative while holding the opposition accountable for their lies. Will you chip in to help get our message out?

Thank you for helping us get the TRUTH out to California Voters!

-- Schools & Communities First Coalition

You're receiving this email from the Schools and Communities First Initiative Campaign. Please click here if you no longer wish to receive updates and information from our campaign.

The Schools & Communities First initiative reclaims $12 billion every year for California’s schools and local communities by closing commercial property tax loopholes benefiting a fraction of corporations and wealthy investors. The initiative benefits residents and small businesses by exempting homeowners and renters from any changes while implementing new tax relief for small businesses.