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A majority of California voters are backing a November ballot measure that proposes to impose a one-time 5% tax on billionaires, while also supporting two propositions aimed at invalidating the tax, according to a poll by the Public Policy Institute of California released this week.
The PPIC surveyed 1,103 likely voters between Sept. 4 and 10 about all 14 statewide measures on the November ballot.
“Majorities across the state’s regions say that voting in this midterm election is more important this year,” said the report’s authors, with most voters also saying that lawmakers in Sacramento can be trusted to do what is right only “some of the time.”
About 52% of likely voters said they would vote for Proposition 40, which will impose the one-time billionaire wealth tax on properties and assets to fill gaps in funding for health care left by the Trump administration’s cuts to Medicaid. About 42% of likely voters were opposed and 2% were undecided on the measure.
But the poll found that about 51% of likely voters also support Proposition 41, which would require a state auditor to review proposed special taxes before placed on the ballot, and about 54% support Proposition 42, which would prohibit new state personal property taxes. Both measures, backed largely by Google co-founder and billionaire Sergey Brin, would effectively invalidate the billionaire tax, if passed.
The wealth tax is opposed by Gov. Gavin Newsom and gubernatorial frontrunner Democrat Xavier Becerra, as well as the California Teachers Association, who say the tax will drive wealthy taxpayers to other states. The CTA said in June that the tax would “not provide the sustainable and long-lasting funding that our schools and communities deserve.” The organization said it would prefer extending the taxes on the wealthy that are set to end in 2031, unless voters extend them in November.
About 58% of likely voters said they would support Proposition 3, which would make permanent existing tax rates for high earners to fund public schools in California, while about 40% said they would oppose it and 2% remained undecided.
