Contending factions have waged political war over California taxes for nearly a half-century. It could reach a climax under a ballot measure this fall, but opponents are asking the state Supreme Court to remove it from the ballot.

While one measure, Prop. 15 failed, another ballot measure to change the tax system passed, marking a bittersweet election for everyone.

In the current election cycle, Californians are being asked to weigh in on two more changes to the tax-slashing constitutional amendment.

The measure coming up on the Nov. 3 ballot is the closest anyone’s gotten to touching the “third rail” of California politics.

If voters pass the measure, it would take effect on July 1, 2020, and generate up to $70 million a year for the city general fund.

Serious health issues can play out in schools every day, sometimes in life and death ways. Yet few schools in California have a credentialed school nurse at the ready to appropriately address the problem. The school nurse ratio is a troubling one for every 2,240 students.

Silicon Valley home values saw double-digit appreciation in the past year, outpacing the nation’s rebounding real estate market. Santa Clara County Assessor Larry Stone last week released a detailed breakdown of single-family home and condo prices. The report of prices in 25 South Bay neighborhoods shows growth in single-family home values ranging from 4 to 24 percent, and 13 to 46 percent for condos.

California finally has the opportunity to be governable after last week’s election. For too many years the ability to set policy has been obstructed by a system that allows for minority veto.