I’m really confused and hope someone can help me understand how some Democrats and Republican candidates running for governor of California can say they would eliminate the state income tax. California collects over $100 billion in personal income tax annually, with the 2024-25 budget approximating $114.7 billion.
Income tax is the state’s largest revenue source!
Some candidates say they want to build more low-cost housing. Low-cost for who? Home values and rents in California are among the most expensive in the nation, with the state having one of the highest rates of homelessness. And it costs between $300,000 and $400,000 per unit, or $429 per square foot, to build low-cost apartments in the L.A. metro area. (Source: CalMatters.)
That is for a 700- to 900-square-foot apartment. In 2026 California is “loaning” Los Angeles $29,739,000 for low-cost housing, according to the State Treasurer’s Office.
Then we have the fact that the total state government debt is estimated around $497 billion. An actual number is very elusive: It could be as high as $1 trillion.
So my confusion is: When we are already $497 billion in debt, how can any reasonable person campaign on immediately adding an additional $100 billion-plus in debt per year and expect people to vote for them? And people will vote for them! There aren’t enough millionaires to tax to make up that much!
At the same time L.A. County is asking us to vote for a 1/2 percent tax increase!
Do you know what and for whom you are voting? There are any number of websites available to check out every candidate and proposition.
Oh yeah, one more thing: How much is it actually going to cost for that train to nowhere? Hmmmm!
Ron Perry
Canyon Country
