California Supreme Court suggests lower bar for passing tax increases through ballot initiatives

The San Diego Union Tribune reports:

A California Supreme Court ruling Monday makes it easier for citizens to use ballot initiatives to raise taxes, potentially boosting campaigns to use public money for stadiums, convention centers, roads, housing and other projects.

Ever since Proposition 218 passed in 1996, it was interpreted that the state constitution required at least two-thirds of voters to approve local ballot measures that raise taxes for a specific projects, a high threshold intended to curtail tax increases.

But Monday’s 5-2 court ruling says the proposition doesn’t apply to such citizens’ initiatives, but instead only government efforts to raise taxes.

The ruling appears to lower the threshold needed to pass citizens’ initiatives to a simple majority, though some dispute it will have that effect. But some called it a game-changer.

Are higher taxes coming to California???