Bitter ballot fight brewing over vacant homes in major California city [View all]

One of California’s largest cities will decide next week on whether to tax property owners annually for homes left vacant more than half the year.

San Diego residents will vote on Measure A next week, a controversial tax that would charge homeowners if their properties are vacant for more than 182 days a year. If passed, it would go into effect in 2027 and charge up to $8,000 the first year and $10,000 the next, with additional fees for commercial property owners. All the revenue would go into the city’s general fund.

It could amount to 5,140 homes that qualify for the tax, the measure says, resulting in about $24 million generated each year.

San Diego has been hit hard by a housing shortage in the past decade, while home prices nearly doubled. Backers say the measure would help return some of these vacant homes to the market.




https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/san-diego-vacant-home-tax-22281080.php