THE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE:

State Sen. Tom Harman has introduced a bill to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the passage of Proposition 13, which capped property tax rates in the state. The ballot measure reduced property taxes by an average of 57% in California.

“Proposition 13 was the catalyst for the economic success California has enjoyed over the past 30 years,� Harman said in a written statement. “By keeping taxes low in our state, we will continue to encourage new jobs and growth to relocate to California.�

Proposition 13 has been considered by many historians to be a forerunner to a taxpayer revolt that led to the election of President Ronald Reagan in 1980.

Harman jointly sponsored the measure along with state Sen. Tom McClintock (R-Thousand Oaks).

Critics of Proposition 13 over the years have said it contributes to inequalities and inefficiencies in the housing market and state tax structure, and has reduced the amount of state block grant money available to fund local programs such as ones focusing on health care.

Business mogul Warren Buffett suggested repealing the proposition in 2003 to then-gubernatorial candidate Arnold Schwarzenegger to help balance the state budget.

“I told Warren if he mentions Prop. 13 one more time he has to do 500 sit-ups,� Schwarzenegger famously quipped at a news conference.

With a growing budget gap Schwarzenegger has estimated could grow to $20 billion through June 2009, it might be time for Buffett to start working on his abs.

 

NEWPORT Beach WINS NATIONAL PLANNING AWARD

The American Planning Assn. recently awarded its 2008 National Planning Achievement Award for “Hard-Won Victories� to Newport Beach.

The city won the honor for its efforts to update its 30-year-old general plan through a five-year community project. Newport Beach voters approved a new general plan by 54% in November 2006.

“The single most important thing in the General Plan victory was the fact that so many of our citizens were involved in the update process,� Mayor Ed Selich said while accepting the honor. “Over the course of five years, they worked extremely hard to develop a plan that was supported by the voters.�

Selich, Assistant City Manager Sharon Wood and Senior Planner Gregg Ramirez accepted the award at an awards luncheon in Las Vegas on April 30.

Newport Beach was selected from a field of 115 award nominations to win one of only 12 American Planning Assn. national awards.

The project received a similar Outstanding Planning award from the association’s California chapter in October 2007.

BRIANNA BAILEY may be reached at (714) 966-4625 or at [email protected].