Help Us Advocate for An Urgent Fix to Save Local Funding

May 30, 2026 - 02:05

Several cities and counties across California are grappling with the consequences of tax measures that were poorly structured at the ballot box. These flawed policies are now creating a double crisis: they are slowing down new housing construction and, at the same time, putting a serious dent in the state's ability to pay for essential public services.

Local governments are finding that these measures, which were intended to raise revenue, are instead backfiring. They are choking the supply of new homes, which only deepens the state's housing shortage. More critically, the drop in expected revenue is threatening budgets for schools, public safety, fire protection, and affordable housing programs.

The situation has become urgent enough that housing and fiscal policy groups are now pleading with the California legislature and the Governor's office to step in. The call is for an immediate, targeted fix that would untangle these poorly designed rules without waiting for a lengthy statewide ballot process. Without this intervention, advocates warn, the damage to local funding streams will become irreversible, leaving communities unable to pay for basic needs while the housing crisis gets worse. The message is clear: act now, or watch vital local services collapse under the weight of a policy mistake.