Without property tax revenue, Schrag says, the infrastructure of the state has steadily weakened. Public health services, which lack a powerful constituency and have no lobbyists to speak of, operate on shoestring budgets, often with little or no help from Sacramento. As a veteran reporter, Schrag is skilled at asking questions. When it comes to finding answers, however, he's much more cautious. As long as property owners constitute a majority of voters, the likelihood of raising property taxes again is slim indeed.
Admission is free.