I think the point of the article is correct; the issue with CA is everyone wants to live there, including rich people. If we try and tax them then they'll leave just long enough to not pay state income tax, if we tax property values then the state actually gets the tax and doesn't miss out on job creation or future revenue.
Red states have implemented low income tax with heavy property taxes (think Texas) with great results. and although I'm sure California would just manage to mess it up it's a great idea.
I would not frame Texas as having great results. If anything places should get as little like Texas as they possibly can. I mean they send you to jail for an abortion or a gram of weed. It's living under Shari-yall law.
The tax system in Texas is a better system. Sure, Texas has lots of problems. That doesn't mean there is nothing to learn from Texas.
I live in Texas. I don't like the restrictive laws. Texas could learn a lot for California, just not in the areas of taxation
The lack of a progressive income tax structure gives texas few levers to ameliorate budget issues without cutting services or raising property taxes. It doesn't help the current governor seems to be pushing city budgets to the brink by also cutting off the property tax lever.
https://www.texastribune.org/2026/08/17/texas-city-budgets-c...
Out of curiosity, why couldn't property taxes be progressive? What stops Texas from having different tax rates based on the value of the property?
It even seems like it avoids a lot the pit falls the uber-wealthy use to avoid most progressive income taxes. Its easy to disguise income as something else. Property, though, is right out in the open. The state can easily audit and value property and send the bill. No matter how fancy the accounting, that bill will eventually reach the person "consuming" that property.
Nothing I'm aware of stops that.
In practice, at least from what I've read, in TX, the largest/wealthiest companies get the biggest/best tax breaks (eg Tesla), and end up paying proportionally less, so it's somewhat regressive.
In Texas, like Florida, you get a bill for all improvements within your neighborhood or development as they come. Just because the tax may appear low on the front end, that doesn’t mean you don’t pay for the same relative lifestyle as everybody else in the United States of America.
Even though all the states have their differences they all live relatively the same, in short, if you are an average person, you pay pretty much the same as any place else. It’s only the wealthy who get to hopscotch and dance over the top of all the bodies of the (working class) below.
There’s nothing California can learn from Texas, but if you want to live like Texas or Oklahoma, you can just move to Bakersfield, California hint: that part of California sucks.
Better, or better for you in particular?
> Shari-yall
Made me laugh while drinking; messy, but worth it for the smiles I'll have every time I remember it! Outstanding job, internet stranger.
Related slang options: "Y'all-Qaeda", "Yeehawdis", "Talibangelical".
It’s pretty easy not to murder babies.
Appropriate username.
Solid counter argument.