Oppose the Real Property Transfer Tax

Once again, Sunnyvale City Council is discussing a blank-check tax increase that is unnecessary and will take money from your pocket. It’s called a “Real Property Transfer Tax” (RPTT) and if it sounds familiar, it should!

That’s because the Mayor and City Council discussed the RPTT back in 2022 and at that time, I helped defeat the proposal along with my former colleagues Glenn Hendricks and Tony Spitaleri.

Well, the RPTT is back once again and there’s a very good chance it will end up on the November 2024 ballot. Here’s why the RPTT should remain in the graveyard of unnecessary government taxes that take money from your wallet:

— This tax is a blank check. The Mayor and Council can’t even tell you exactly how they want to spend the money, just that they want more money to spend! Check out this article from San José Spotlight making vague statements about “new programs” and “measures”.

— Here are things that matter to Sunnyvale residents that this new tax would NOT fund:

• A new burglary suppression unit of the Sunnyvale police department
• A new main library
• Socking away funds for our nearly half-billion dollar unfunded pension liability

The RPTT does nothing for these needs!

— An RPTT will make it more expensive to build the new housing, and affordable housing, that Sunnyvale needs. It’s as simple as that!

— We don’t even need a new special tax like the RPTT. According to Sunnyvale’s Finance Director, Sunnyvale’s tax revenues over the next 20 years are expected to increase by $90 to $100 million, versus last year’s budget. We don’t need a new special tax.

— If “new programs” and “measures” are truly needed, they can be paid for from the existing tax base and by rationalizing existing services. These are precisely the tough decisions that you elect City Council to make!

In Sunnyvale, I am the only politician with the brass spine to stand up and oppose the RPTT. So far, there have been two procedural votes on the RPTT and I am the only Councilmember to have voted NO both times! City Hall doesn’t need to reach into your wallet for any more of your money.

Here is what you can do to help:

— Mail Sunnyvale’s Mayor and City Councilmembers and tell them to DROP the RPTT proposal

— If anyone asks you about the RPTT proposal, tell them you oppose it!

— If you agree that we don’t need this new tax, consider supporting me in the November 2024 election for Sunnyvale Mayor by endorsing my campaign or making a financial contribution

Together we can defeat the RPTT and send it back to the graveyard of unnecessary government taxes taking your hard-earned money!