August 8, 2024
Golden State Republican Women
Janet Price, President
Submitted by the GSRW Legislative Analyst Committee
Valerie Evans, Lou Ann Flaherty and Elaine Freeman,
PROPOSITION 4
California Proposition 4, Parks, Environment, Energy, and Water Bond Measure (2024)
| A “yes” vote supports issuing $10 billion in bonds to fund state and local parks, environmental protection projects, water infrastructure projects, energy projects, and flood protection projects. |
| A “no” vote opposes issuing $10 billion in bonds to fund state and local parks, environmental protection projects, water infrastructure projects, energy projects, and flood protection projects. |
Text:
Find the full 36 pages of text at https://ballotpedia.org/California_Proposition_4,_Parks,_Environment,_Energy,_and_Water_Bond_Measure_(2024)#Opposition
https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/statewide-elections/public-display/prop-4-text.pdf
Background:
Between 1993 and 2024, California voters decided on six bond measures related to parks and the environment, of which four were approved and two were defeated. The total amount of bonds approved related to parks and the environment was nearly $9.7 billion. As recently as 2018, The California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection, and Outdoor Access For All Act, was approved by voters, and authorized the issuance of bonds in the amount of $4.1 billion.
The 2018 Bond Act (Prop 68) covered almost all the same issues as the current Proposition 4. What became of the $4 billion in bonds from 2018? Why are legislators coming back for more money to fix the same problems? As of 2016, California had $17.9 billion in general obligation bonds dedicated to Transportation & Clean Air, and $13.7 billion dedicated to Clean Air & Disaster Preparedness. Now politicians want even more! Will they ever fix any of these purported problems? Of course not.
Financial Impact: The estimated cost to repay the bond would be about $400 million annually over a 40-year period or $16 billion total. Over 40 years, we, our children and grandchildren will be paying for this bond measure, a California Green New Deal.
Your Vote:
A “YES” vote supports issuing $10 billion in bonds to fund state and local parks, environmental protection projects, water infrastructure projects, energy projects, and flood protection projects.
A “NO” vote opposes issuing $10 billion in bonds to fund state and local parks, environmental protection projects, water infrastructure projects, energy projects, and flood protection projects.
Support:
- California Labor Federation
- Clean Water Action
- Environmental Defense Fund
- Natural Resources Defense Council
Oppose:
- Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association
- California GOP
PROPOSITION 5
California Proposition 5, Lower Supermajority Requirement to 55% for Local Bond Measures to Fund Housing and Public Infrastructure Amendment (2024)
PROPOSITION 5 -This measure changes the vote requirement for local bonds for affordable housing and public infrastructure from the current 66% to 55%. This was brought forward by the California legislature as a constitutional amendment. This change would bring the vote requirement in-line with the 55% required for school bonds.
A YES vote means certain local bonds and related property taxes could be approved with a 55% vote of the local electorate, rather than the current 66%.
A NO vote means that certain local bonds and related property taxes would continue to need 66%.
SUPPORT:
California Democratic Party, California Labor Federation, State Building and Construction Trades Council, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, California Association of Counties, YIMBY, and League of Women Voters
OPPOSE:
California Republican Party, California Association of Realtors, California Chamber of Commerce, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, National Federation of Independent Businesses
Legislative Portal links – Express your support or opposition to a bill or directly to the Legislative committee currently reviewing it (as an individual, not as a member of RW or GSRW) – click here, or the bill’s author – click here, enter your bill # and look for tab at top of the bill page labeled “Comments to Author”.
