Placer County approves resolutions opposing Props. 5, 33

The Placer County Board of Supervisors approved two resolutions on Oct. 8 opposing Propositions 5 and 33. Prop. 5 aims to lower the supermajority requirement from 66.7 percent to 55 percent for local (i.e. cities, counties and special districts) bond measures to fund housing and public infrastructure. The proposition defines affordable housing as housing developments that are affordable to individuals who are lower- or middle-income households earning up to 150 percent of the countywide median income. At the board's Sept. 24 meeting, Joel Joyce, legislative and governmental affairs coordinator for Placer County, confirmed public infrastructure within Prop. 5 "runs the gamut" of what could be bonded out, including water quality, sanitation, roads, public safety buildings, public safety apparatuses and broadband. Prop. 33 seeks to expand local governments' authority to enact rent control to provide flexibility in regulating rental prices for all housing types. The Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act, passed in 1995, currently limits cities' and counties' ability to implement rent control, Joyce advised. The board received an overview of the propositions, along with three others, and directed staff to return with resolutions in opposition of Props. 5 and 33. The board decided to remain neutral on Props. 4, 32 and 35. "More affordable housing and public-serving infrastructure are worthy goals and we remain committed to them," Board Chair and District 4 Supervisor Suzanne Jones said in a written statement. "Our goal is to create solutions that encourage building homes, rather than putting more rules in place or changing how tax money is generated." The board received four comments in support of opposing Prop. 5, with some commenters noting the passing of the proposition would negate Prop. 13, which limits property taxes to one percent of assessed valuation. The board approved both resolutions in unanimous votes. A news release by the county confirmed the board's Prop. 5 resolution notes previous bond measures for affordable housing and public infrastructure have passed with the current two-thirds votes, and highlights concerns about the proposition's potential for increasing public debt and the property tax burden on homeowners. The resolution in opposition to Prop. 33 notes rent control policies have been shown to reduce the availability of rental housing by discouraging new construction and investment in rental properties, leading to long-term housing shortages, the county noted. The board's action follows its Sept. 24 approval of a resolution supporting Prop. 36.