Regarding Measure B-26, one point that is raised among proponents is that the maintenance portion of the tax measure will only cost $100/year.
The Los Osos Community Services District FAQ sheet states that after the purchase is complete in 15 years there will be an “ongoing monthly cost of $8 for operations, maintenance, and improvements.” Not true. The measure clearly states that in 2027, immediately after the measure is passed, the LOCSD may increase that tax, limited to the annual percentage change in the CPI (Consumer Price Index) in the LA and San Francisco areas.
So that $100 tax component will only apply to the first year, after which it could increase. Property taxes in California index annually but are capped at 2 percent, whereas Measure B-26 would have no caps other than the real rate of inflation.
Between 2022 and 2025 the LA area’s annual April CPI was 7.9 percent, 3.8 percent, 3.9 percent, and 3 percent. For 2026 the CPI is expected to begin increasing yet again. Due to the effects of compounding, with an average annual calculated CPI increase of 5 percent, that $100 maintenance tax component would increase to $208 in 15 years, $432 in 30 years, $1,147 in 50 years, and $8,073 in 90 years.
Future inflation rates are an unknown, but an open-ended tax with no cap on annual increases in CPI would increase that tax liability significantly over time. For those who think that a 5 percent annual increase is unrealistic, I would point out that over the last 50 years there have been periods of ultra-high inflation. Between 1972 and 1982 the LA area annual CPI increase never fell below 6 percent, and for five of those years it exceeded double digits with a peak of 15.8 percent in July of 1980.
Measure B-26 is framed as being an opportunity to create a legacy for future generations to enjoy. That legacy will also include a sizable tax liability.
Jeff Stranlund
Los Osos
This article appears in Summer Guide 2026.
Trying to keep politicians away from other people’s money is like trying to keep an addict away from drugs.
Inflammatory at best, this opinion piece makes assumptions to scare people. Let’s talk about the price of ANYTHING in 90 years from now. Good luck.
“Future inflation rates are an unknown…” Lol. Considering how much money printing our government and federal reserve engage in, that $400 rate in 30 years will feel like a bargain. I just paid close to 6 bucks for a large French fry at McDonald’s. I wouldn’t be surprised if we enter Zimbabwe style hyper inflation within 2 years. Good luck owning a house, it’s going to be taxed straight to hell.