A business-backed coalition has launched a statewide 60-second radio ad and mail pieces opposing Senate Bill 653, legislation by Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg that would give local governments more power to increase taxes.

Here is the text of the radio spot, which is similar to the wording in the mail brochure, and an analysis by Torey Van Oot of The Bee Capitol Bureau:

Female announcer: New county income taxes may be coming your way – that story next after traffic — we have an accident reported at.

Male announcer: Sacramento politicians are at it again. They’re quietly pushing Senate Bill 653, a bill to allow local income taxes on top of federal and state income taxes.

According to the California Taxpayers Association, 653 also opens the floodgates for politicians to invent entirely new local taxes on products and services like gasoline, groceries, cars even doctor appointments.

The last thing we need are new and even higher local taxes. Log onto morejobsnottaxes.com and send the politicians a message NO on SB 653.

That website is: morejobsnottaxes.com let them know you oppose local income taxes and you oppose SB 653.”

ANALYSIS

The campaign omits a key aspect of the legislation by failing to acknowledge that any new taxes would have to be approved by local voters.

The proposal, introduced as an amendment to an existing bill in mid-April, authorizes counties and school districts to ask voters to raise a variety of taxes, including income, sales, alcohol, cigarette, medical marijuana and oil severance taxes, to fund local services.

While the bill allows local governments to propose taxes on a wide range of specific goods or services, it would likely not allow levies on food or doctor’s appointments as the ad states because of current state tax law and constitutional requirements.

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