a constitutional follow-up to Proposition 13. During the November 1996 election, California voters approved the Proposition 218 initiative constitutional amendment. Proposition 218 established constitutional limits on the ability of local governments to levy benefit assessments on real property and property-related fees and charges. Proposition 218 also requires voter approval before a local government can impose, increase, or extend any local tax. Proposition 218 also constitutionally reserves to local voters the right to use the initiative power to reduce or repeal any local tax, assessment, fee or charge. The Proposition 218 constitutional amendment is the only successful statewide ballot initiative sponsored by the association since its formation in 1989. Jon Coupal Presidency Jon Coupal, who had been Director of Legal Affairs for the association from 1991 to 1998, is its second and current president, having assumed the office at the beginning of 1999. Jon Coupal writes a column on California issues every Sunday in the Opinion section on the Southern California News Group's eleven newspapers and websites. References External links Organizations based in California Taxation in California Taxpayer groups Lobbying organizations in the United States Property taxes Conservative organizations in the United States