Some of California’s most prominent technology and finance moguls are toying with taking their business out of state.

Peter Thiel, the founder of a San Francisco private investment firm, announced that he opened a new office in Miami last week, and venture capitalist David Sacks said he opened an office in Austin, Texas. They mark just two of the wealthiest Californians who are deemed a flight-risk now that a ballot measure that would tax them 5%, just one time, has suddenly gained legitimacy.

“Billionaires can pay the tax over five years, so it’s unlikely to decrease their wealth — since many gain more in capital gains in a few months than the cost of the annual payments,” said Suzanne Jimenez, the chief of staff of SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West, a powerful labor union, and lead supporter of the billionaire tax, in an email to SFGATE.

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The ballot measure was authored by the labor group, which plans this month to begin collecting the 874,641 signatures required by state law for it to qualify for the state ballot this November. If........

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