In turnabout, Bass withdraws bill to overhaul 'mansion tax'

L.A. mayor had called for rewrite of Measure ULA in the final days of legislative session.

- BY DAVID ZAHNISER AND ANDREW KHOURI

DAVID BUTOW For The Times MAYOR Karen Bass had worked with state lawmakers to draft a last-minute overhaul of Measure ULA.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass' bid to rewrite the city's voter-approved "mansion tax" fell apart on Thursday, with Bass and her allies pulling the state bill hours before its first critical vote.

Bass had worked with Sacramento legislators to draft a last-minute overhaul of Measure ULA, a tax hike on L.A. property sales above $5.3 million, preparing a bill that would reduce taxes charged on the sale of recently built apartment buildings, shopping centers and warehouses.

The bill had been scheduled to go Thursday before the state Assembly's local government committee, which is chaired by Assemblymember Juan Carrillo (D-Palmdale). Shortly before that meeting, Bass issued a statement saying she had decided to pull the bill and try again in January.

"Due to a need for additional amendments and further technical changes, I've asked both leaders to continue [Senate Bill] 423 so that we can make further improvements this fall and reintroduce in January," she said.