Good post summarizing the problem in detail, CAR. Yes, I don’t have a problem with 1 or 5 because the folks in the “1” group who are still residing in their property with the original Prop-13 assessment will eventually pass on, making their ultra-low assessment moot (and eventually Prop 13 itself moot). It was the later-enacted Props 58 and 193 which allowed the ultra-low Prop 13 assessments to pass on down a family into perpetuity and that wasn’t the original intention of Prop 13. It was mainly to keep senior citizens (read: 65+ years of age) from being taxed out of their homes. It wasn’t to provide their hotshot age 30-40-something children or grandchildren in (expensive) SF or LA a $25K++ property tax subsidy on each multifamily building they’re currently trying their hand at slumlording over.
As far as #5, I do think agricultural landowners who inherited their property should get a pass-thru of their ancestor’s assessment as long as they are still using ALL the property for agriculture. If they decide NOT to farm or ranch for a season while they negotiate with Big Development over subdividing their land (and eventually sell it to that developer) then their assessment should be increased retroactive to July 1 in the year they decided not to farm anymore, regardless of when the sale actually consummates. I haven’t figured out the formula for this increase, but it should be substantial enough to keep them from “gaming the system” to stretch out their ultra-low assessment (or trying to transfer title to a child or grandchild who is a developer or will act as a middleman to unload the property on a developer). Also, if the state has any other programs which act as waivers of assessment for CA farm and ranch land owners and which have the effect of lowering their assessment per acre LOWER than what Prop 13 provides for, then the landowner shouldn’t be able to use both programs simultaneously on the same parcels of land. If the landowner is being paid by the Dept of Agriculture NOT to grow certain crops for particular season(s) or to leave their land bare, then this should have no bearing on their assessement for those particular parcels.
