Major city plans to institute first-in-the-nation tax on large buildings — here's how it could impac

[rangerrebew]

 
Major city plans to institute first-in-the-nation tax on large buildings — here's how it could impact you
Story by Kristen Lawrence • 9h


The city of Berkeley, California, is proposing a landmark tax on large buildings that use natural gas, which would provide funding to electrify older homes and businesses.

As Canary Media reported, the strategy was suggested to reduce the city's pollution after courts scrapped a first-of-its-kind ban on natural gas hookups. In November, Berkeley residents will vote on a proposal to institute a tax on owners of buildings measuring 15,000 square feet or larger based on their natural gas usage.
 
According to city officials, the measure would apply to an estimated 600-plus buildings throughout the city and generate nearly $27 million in annual sales tax revenue. 90% of the funds would be allocated to energy-efficient upgrades in homes and buildings, and the rest would go toward administrative needs.

Low-income communities would get priority as beneficiaries of the ruling, with union workers having first dibs on retrofit projects funded by the tax. If passed, the measure would go into effect Jan. 1, 2025, and expire by 2050.

 https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/realestate/major-city-plans-to-institute-first-in-the-nation-tax-on-large-buildings-here-s-how-it-could-impact-you/ar-AA1sTvIV?ocid=anaheim-ntp-feeds&pc=HCTS&cvid=fd255cee4d724ed485458499a79a2618&ei=74

[rangerrebew]

Mejifornia has it down to a fine science on how to drive business out and keep it from coming in.

[PeteS in CA]

I doubt that other cities will copycat this bit of Berserkeley insanity (BTW, the "Berserkeley" nickname has been in circulation in central California for at least 60 years that I know of, so the City of Berkeley is not held in high esteem). Berserkeley would be a large-ish city in some states, but in California, ~120K is a small city.

If this passes (the provisions of Proposition 13 may make that difficult), at least some building owners will stop paying taxes and dare Berserkeley to take over the buildings. Depending on the proposed tax's particulars, this could result in a noticeable decrease in the supply of housing in the city.

[jafo2010]

The failure of California to govern properly is driving businesses out of the state, wage earners out of the state.  The prominence of California is waning, and when they awaken from their utter liberal stupidity/insanity, no one will want to return.  The damage will be permanent!

[GtHawk]

I guess the result will be no more large buildings, with gas or not being built in the garden of stupid. With electricity rates going up and grid dependability headed down with more demands on it why would you?

[Kamaji]