GAINES GAZETTE
December 2021
As we celebrate the Christmas season, I hope your household is blessed with peace, joy, and the love of family and friends. My favorite part of Christmas is reflecting on the birth of our Savior and all the blessings he has bestowed on us. This year, I count the opportunity to continue serving as your elected taxpayer advocate among my greatest blessings.
 
On behalf of the entire Gaines family, I wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
December Board Actions
The Great Seal of California features the Roman goddess Minerva a grizzly bear feeding on grape vines a sheaf of grain a miner and sailing ships. The state motto Eureka meaning I have found it is written above Minerva.
During the December Board meeting, we covered various property tax matters, discussed remote hearings of assessment appeals boards; adopted a proposed property tax rule and approved revisions to the assessors' handbooks. We also voted unanimously to authorize staff to move forward with three legislative proposals for 2022.

Finally, we voted to elect Member Malia Cohen as the new BOE chair for 2022 effective January 1, and to retain Vice Chair Michael Schaefer in the role he has held for the past two years. As chair of the BOE, Member Cohen also will serve as one of the three members of the Franchise Tax Board.

We are proud as a Board to continue meeting our constitutional duties using various virtual platforms and remain committed to our mission to serve Californians through fair, effective, and efficient tax administration in support of state and local governments.
Lawmakers Considered $236.4 Billion in
Taxes & Fee Increases in 2021
According to the California Tax Foundation, state lawmakers considered raising annual taxes and fees by more than $236.4 billion in 2021. These proposals came at a time when the state was experiencing record revenue collection.

The nonprofit foundation’s Tax and Fee Report tallied 74 proposals that included taxes or fees estimated to cost taxpayers $1 million or more annually. Although the cost to taxpayers cannot be quantified for 43 of the measures, the remaining 31 represent a cumulative total of $236.4 billion in additional taxes and fees if all were approved.

It seems to me that with the staggering amount of revenue our state is collecting, there should be absolutely no need to raise a single cent in new taxes or fees on hardworking California families. Californians are already overtaxed and deserve some relief!

Founded in 1980 by the California Taxpayers Association, the California Tax Foundation is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization that seeks to improve public policy through thoughtful and independent nonpartisan research.
Around the First District
I’ve enjoyed making the Christmas party rounds in the first district! Thanks to all for hosting such fun and festive celebrations.
Board Member Gaines gives the invocation at the Sacramento County Republican Party Christmas reception.
Board Member Gaines with members of the El Dorado County Republican Assembly at their annual Christmas party.
The Government Grinch that Stole Christmas
The following is an excerpt from my latest opinion piece commenting on the impact of inflation and California policies this holiday season.

Are you ready for the most expensive holiday season in forever? Hold on to your wallets, because high inflation and wrongheaded California policies are the Grinch that stole Christmas, pressuring family budgets and diminishing our quality of life.

If you’ve gone to the grocery store or shopping mall, you’ve witnessed a spike in inflation like we haven’t seen in decades. The consumer price index surged 6.2% from a year ago in October, the highest increase since 1990. But the story is actually worse. The October monthly increase was itself 0.9%, which would indicate an annualized increase of nearly 11%.
At Your Service
White sign with words Customer Service in red sitting next to a bell with a finger pushing down on the ringer. Picture of Board Member Ted Gaines sitting in a black desk chair wearing a light blue shirt and striped tie.
As a Board Member, my number one priority is to advocate for taxpayers. I believe hardworking Californians deserve to have someone working on their behalf to streamline and promote efficiency in state government.
 
Should you need assistance with tax-related problems or have questions, visit my website for information on how to contact my office or email me directly anytime.
Mark Your Calendar!