Farmers and ranchers worked hard to keep their farms in the family. Unfortunately, the government is taking it away through Proposition 19, passed in 2020.

They are facing more and more pressure to sell in order to pay inheritance taxes.

In 1978, Howard Jarvis started a tax revolt by passing Proposition 13 in 1978. In 1986, Prop. 13 was extended to children through Proposition 58 and later to grandchildren in 1996 through Proposition 193.

Prop. 19 took Props. 58 and 193 away and now the children of Prop. 13 beneficiaries are losing their homes and small businesses.

Farmers are also affected. I have owned our cattle ranch for over 15 years and don’t want my son to sell the property upon my passing.  Protecting family property, especially farmland, is crucial for California’s future.

I encourage whenever a family can keep the land. Give it your kids, your grandkids — don’t sell it. The small farmer represents what America has always been. Once again, people are angry that they are losing homes to taxation, and there are three petitions to be completed and signed to be placed on the ballot to fight it.

1. FiXProp19 to Save Our Children’s Future (by Repeal The Death Tax) Sign this if you want to keep portability (transferring an existing property tax base to a new home), but remove the unaffordable property tax reassessment from Prop. 19 reinstating Props. 58 and 193. If we can’t pay, we can’t stay. Let’s keep property taxes low so everyone benefits, including farms, tenants and small businesses.
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3. Reclaim Voters’ Rights Sign this if you want to get back our rights to place citizen’s initiatives, referendums and vetoes on any ballot to protect ourselves. In 2011, the legislators and governor signed away our rights, and it is the reason we have to wait two years for a November general ballot to fight to fix Prop. 19.
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5. Local Taxpayer Protection Act to Save Prop. 13 Sign this to A) Limit government from raising taxes by maintaining a two-thirds voter approval. B) Stop the additional transfer taxes sweeping the state if you are forced to sell your home through Prop. 19. As an example, through Measure ULA in Los Angeles, there is an additional 4-5.5% of sales price that must be paid at close of escrow. C) Repeal the additional transfer taxes in two years if previously enacted without a ⅔ voter approval.
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Prop. 19 is a land grab to force sales of family farms and homes. It will also cause increase homelessness as truly affordable housing is lost (for tenants too), and small farmers will be challenged to survive. Seniors are the largest demographic moving into homelessness.

When seniors and the disabled outlive the assets of the sale, they will be forced to rely on public assistance. Prop. 19 was supposed to help seniors and disabled. Sold in the name of equity, it is pure gentrification.

Please take the time to sign the petitions so these critical propositions can be placed on the ballot.

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Chris Mathys, a former member of the Fresno City Council, is the CEO of Fresno-based Oro Financial and a cattle ranch owner.