mar-apr-2020

approved with a two-thirds vote of both houses of the Legislature. It required approval by two-thirds of voters for any tax levied by local governments that was designated for a special purpose, like parks or roads. What Is Split Roll? A tax roll is the official list of all the properties to be taxed. “Split roll” means applying a different tax formula, either tax rate, reassessment frequency, or vote requirement, to commercial and industrial properties than that applied to residential properties. Proponents of a split roll would remove some of the protections of Proposition 13 from nonresidential properties in order to raise taxes. How Will This Impact California Agriculture? Although the revised initiative includes a small business and agricultural land exemption, the split roll still would be crippling to a significant portion of businesses. The agricultural exemption language only applies to the “land.” The current tax law defines “real property” as land, improvements and fixtures, which for farmers means that real agricultural property is defined as not only the land, but also fixtures such as irrigation systems, and improvements — barns, processing facilities, and fruit trees and vineyards once they reach maturity. Under the California Constitution, vineyards are only exempt for the first three years after the season in which they are planted, and orchards are only exempt for the first four years after the season they are planted. Other improvements would be subject to reassessment and would also require all food and agricultural processing facilities to be reassessed at their highest and best use. The initiative would not require row crops, such vegetables and cotton, to be reassessed, as those are exempt under the FOR MORE INFO, PLEASE VISIT EXACTCORP.COM OR CALL 209.544.8600 FOR EVERY PHASE OF NUT PRODUCT ION. . . SWEEPERS CALL US TO SCHEDULE YOUR HARVEST DEMOS CONDITIONERS CARTS R.O.P.S. Certified Eligible for the LOW-DUST Nut Harvester Replacement Program by the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District SELF-PROPELLED LOW-DUST CONDITIONERS E-CABS HARVESTERS SPRAYERS 2 3 M A R C H – A P R I L 2 0 2 0