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Results by county
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Source: California Secretary of State [1] |
Elections in California |
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Proposition 55 is a California ballot proposition that passed on the November 8, 2016 ballot, regarding extending by twelve years the temporary personal income tax increases enacted in 2012 on earnings over $250,000, with revenues allocated to K–12 schools, California Community Colleges, and, in certain years, healthcare. [2] Proposition 55 will raise tax revenue by between $4 billion and $9 billion a year. [3] Half of funds will go to schools and community colleges, up to $2 billion a year would go to Medi-Cal, and up to $1.5 billion will be saved and applied to debt. [3]
California voters passed temporary sales and income tax increases with Proposition 30 in 2012. [4] During the temporary tax, California's top 1% of earners paid half of the state's income-taxes and contributed one third of its budget. [4] Since the 2012 tax increase, California's tax revenues have grown by nearly 30%, with roughly two thirds of the money going to schools. [4]
Proposition 55 allowed the sales tax increase to expire as planned, while maintaining the increased income tax rates and extended them through 2030. [4] Governor Jerry Brown, who was the primary proponent of the tax increase in 2012, remained neutral on Proposition 55. [5]
Proponents spent $58.6 million fighting for the measure, with the top donor being $25 million from a hospital trade association. [3] An additional $20 million was donated by the California Teachers Association, with other top donors including the Service Employees International Union, and the California School Employees Association. [3] The measure was supported by the editorial boards of The Sacramento Bee [6] and The Mercury News. [7]
Opponents spent $3,000 fighting against the measure. [3] The California Chamber of Commerce, who were neutral on the 2012 tax increase, opposed Proposition 55. [5] The measure was opposed by the editorial boards of the Los Angeles Times, [8] the San Francisco Chronicle, [9] and The Wall Street Journal. [4]
A September 2016 poll by the Public Policy Institute of California showed that 54% of likely voters supported Proposition 55, 38% opposed it, and 8% did not know how they would vote. [10]
Proposition 55 was approved by voters in the November general election, with 63% voting yes. [11]