Author: V. Iyengar, Megaphone Editor-in-chief
In this article we’ll summarize the content of the ballot propositions that all California voters will be able to decide on in this year’s election.
Prop 2
Authorizes the state government to borrow $10 billion to be used to repair/upgrade existing facilities at K-12 public schools and community colleges, and/or for construction of new facilities at these schools.
In addition, generally, school districts must cover 50% of the share of money for new construction project costs and 40% of the share of renovation costs (and the state contributes the rest). Prop 2 lowers the contribution needed from the district (and increases the contribution of the state) to 45% for new construction projects and 35% for renovation costs. It also allows more school districts to apply for additional state funding, allowing districts that are unable to raise at least $15 million from local bonds to do so, an increase from the previous ceiling of $5 million.
What a YES on this Proposition means: The state/quality of educational facilities in California’s public schools would likely improve greatly. To finance these repairs and renovations, the state will sell a $10 billion dollar bond. Bond financing is when the state sells bonds to investors, who are essentially lending money to the state, and in turn the state promises to repay the investors, with interest, over a designated period of time. To repay this bond, state costs will be increased by about $500 million each year for 35 years.
Supporters: California Federation of Teachers, California Labor Federation, Alameda County Office of Education, Association of California School Administrators, California Builders Alliance, California Chamber of Commerce, California Retired Teachers Association, Community College League of California, League of Women Voters of California, Los Angeles Unified School District
Opponents: Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association
Prop 3
Would remove language banning same-sex marriage from the state constitution and guarantee the “right to marry” as a fundamental right.
What a YES on this Proposition means: Nothing will change, as federal courts have rules that same-sex couples can marry, and their authority trumps that in the state constitution.
However, in light of the US Supreme Court’s recent overturning of Roe v. Wade, supporters of this bill worry that other civil rights could lose federal protection. This amendment would protect these rights if this happened.
Supporters: Sierra Pacific Synod of The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Dolores Huerta Foundation, Equality California
Opponents: California Family Council
Prop 4
Authorizes the state to sell a $10 billion bond to fund projects related to water quality and supply, forest fire and wildfire prevention, energy, parks, heat, farms and climate change.
What a YES on this Proposition means: The full breakdown of how the money will be divided can be read here.
The largest chunk of the money ($3.8 billion) will go towards water-related projects, including projects that hope to increase the amount of water and the quality of water available to people in California. Examples of these projects would include storing water so it can be used in the case of a drought, cleaning polluted water and making it safe to drink, etc. Money would also go to projects that would help reduce the risk of floods, such as dam repairs and capturing and reusing stormwater.
The second largest chunk of the money ($1.5 billion) will go to supporting activities that will improve the health of forests and preventing wildfires, including thinning trees in overgrown forests and helping homeowners make their properties more resistant to damage from potential wildfires.
To repay this bond, state costs will be increased by $400 million per year for 40 years.
Supporters: AFL-CIO, California Labor Federation, California Teachers Association, IBEW Local 569, ACLU of Southern California, California Council of Land Trusts, California Fire Chiefs Association, Clean Water Action, Environmental Defense Fund, League of Women Voters of California, Natural Resources Defense Council, The Nature Conservancy
Opponents: Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association
Prop 5
Currently, when a city or a county wants to sell a bond that will be funded by increased property taxes, a two-thirds local vote is required to get it approved. This proposition would lower this requirement to a 55% voter approval requirement.
Local governments are responsible for paying for public infrastructure and affordable housing.
What a YES on this Proposition means: Cities and local governments would find it easier to borrow money to build affordable housing and public infrastructure projects.
This bill will result in increased funding for affordable housing projects, where the typical home costs twice the national average, and where renters pay around 50% more for housing than renters in other states.
Supporters: California Democratic Party, California Labor Federation, State Building and Construction Trades Council of California, ACLU of Southern California, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, California State Association of Counties, California YIMBY, League of Women Voters of California
Opponents: Republican Party of California, California Chamber of Commerce, California Taxpayers Association, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, National Federation of Independent Business
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