As a result, many were surprised when the General Assembly passed a $100 million budget. Gov. Gray Davis promptly signed it into law on Saturday.
This budget is far from perfect. It triples the vehicle license fee and hikes other fees.
Furthermore, the budget is dependent on one-time borrowing and will likely result in another budgetary shortfall next summer.
Better Than Expected
The fact that the impasse was resolved without a large tax hike exceeded the expectations of all but the most optimistic observers.
So how was California able to escape from its $38 billion deficit without a substantial tax increase? Several reasons.
One, Republican lawmakers demonstrated remarkable solidarity in their opposition to tax increases. Senate Minority Leader Jim Brulte even threatened to campaign against any Republican who voted to raise taxes.
Two, the state’s supermajority requirement played an important role. In California, Democrats hold majorities in both chambers. As a result, the GOP opposition would have meant little if only a majority were necessary for a tax increase.
The supermajority requirement — enacted in conjunction with Proposition 13 — gave Assembly Republicans the ability to block tax increases and obtain concessions from Democrats.
Indeed, during the summer, supermajority limits proved to be effective. Of the seven states with comprehensive supermajority limits that enacted budgets by July, six did so without raising taxes. According to data from the American Legislative Exchange Council, the spending-cut-to-tax-increase ratio in these seven states was an astounding 137-to‑1.
Conversely, tax hikes exceeded spending cuts in the rest of the nation.
However, the action of the Nevada Supreme Court in late July showed that California’s supermajority provided Golden State taxpayers with a false sense of security. In response to a suit filed by Nevada Gov. Kenny Guinn, the court effectively nullified Nevada’s two-thirds requirement for tax hikes.
This was ominous for two reasons. First, shortly after the ruling, a Davis representative refused to rule out a similar lawsuit, saying it was “something that we could possibly look at in the future.”
Second, California courts have frequently issued rulings hostile to the local government limitations included in Proposition 13. Considering the magnitude of California’s current fiscal shortfall, it seemed unlikely that state courts would support the supermajority.
In the end, it was the recall effort that saved California taxpayers. With Davis’ popularity hovering at Nixonian levels, Davis and Assembly Democrats realized that any substantial tax hikes would damage his chances of surviving the recall. Consequently, they were more willing to agree to a budget compromise that did not involve a substantial tax increase.
So regardless of the outcome of the recall election, the effort has already scored two important victories. First, it succeeded in preventing an economically damaging tax hike. Second — perhaps even more important — it likely prevented a lawsuit that might have effectively crippled tax limitations and California’s entire initiative process.
Indeed, just 25 years ago another form of direct democracy was used to save California from a different kind of fiscal crisis. With property tax bills soaring and budget surpluses mounting, Proposition 13 provided some much-needed tax relief to beleaguered California taxpayers.
Widespread Effects
Proposition 13’s impact went far beyond reducing property taxes. Indeed, it inspired activists from across the country to use direct democracy to place a variety of limits on state government.
Today’s recall effort might have a similar long-term effect. In the future, recalls could be used to remove profligate legislators and governors from office. They could also be used to remove judges who nullify constitutional tax limitations.
Even if Davis remains in office and the recall remains a rarity, the recall effort of 2003 has still been a rousing success for the taxpayers of California.
