2010 Calfornia Water Bond
Source: http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php
A California Water Bond Proposition will be on the November 2, 2010 ballot in California as a legislatively-referred state statute. The measure is known by its supporters as the Safe, Clean, and Reliable Drinking Water Supply Act of 2010.[1] If voters approve, the water bond proposition will allow the state government to borrow $11.1 billion to overhaul the state's water system.
The motion to put the bond proposition on the November 2010 ballot was passed in the California State Senate and the California State Assembly on November 4, 2009. Dave Cogdill was the primary sponsor of the measure. The bond has been endorsed by the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA). and the California Chamber of Commerce. While most parties agree that public investments are needed to support California's aging water infracture, the opposition counters that this latest bond effort is another step toward CA water privatization.
The last time California voters approved a water bond was with Proposition 84 in 2006. Proposition 84 authorized $5.4 billion in spending on water projects. Its supporters spent $11.4 million on their campaign urging a "yes" vote. Four years earlier, with Proposition 50 in 2002, voters approved $3.4 billion for water projects.[2]
Although there will be plenty of hot-button issues on the 2010 ballot in California, some observers predict that "the biggest fight, the sharpest split, may come over water."[3] As of January 2010, California has a total bond debt of $89 billion from previous bond issues approved by the state's voters. The state makes yearly debt payments of about $10 billion on its $89 billion debt load.[4]
Specific Spending Proposals Include:
$455 million for drought relief projects, disadvantaged communities, small community wastewater treatment improvements and safe drinking water revolving fund. $1.4 billion for "integrated regional water management projects" $2.25 billion for projects that "support delta sustainability options". $3 billion for water storage projects $1.7 billion for ecosystem and watershed protection and restoration projects in 21 watersheds. $1 billion for groundwater protection and cleanup. $1.25 billion for "water recycling and advanced treatment technology projects". The $11 billion water bond bill includes about $2 billion in earmarks for projects that "lawmakers candidly acknowledge were included in the proposal to win the votes that were needed to pass the plan out of the Legislature."[5]
Some Projects That Would be Funded:
$40 million to educate the public about California's water.[5] $100 million for a Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program for watershed restoration, bike trails and public access and recreation projects. $75 million for the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, for public access, education and interpretive projects. $20 million for the Baldwin Hills Conservancy to be used to buy more land. The conservancy is near the home of Assembly Speaker Karen Bass. $20 million for the Bolsa Chica Wetlands in Huntington Beach for interpretive projects for visitors.[5] Gov. Schwarzenegger said, ""When you hear about pork, what is for some people pork is for us cleaning up the groundwater."[5]
The amount of money requested in the bill was increased by $1.15 billion in an all-night session that ended just hours before the bill was approved.
The proposition "was written largely by lobbyist Joe Caves." He is characterized as "a key player behind previous water bonds" and someone who is "a master broker who brings together environmentalists, business groups and various parts of the state that often have very different interests."[2]
Supporters:
California Chamber of Commerce, Assoc. of California Water Agencies. Environmental Defense Fund, Natural Resource Defense Council. All major Republican candidates for Governor of California in 2010 support the proposal. (Jerry Brown has not expressed an opinion.)[3] Silicon Valley Leadership Group.
Fiscal Impact:
According to the California Legislative Analyst's Office, repaying the bond would cost the state's general fund between $600 million and $800 million a year.
State Treasurer Bill Lockyer's spokesman Tom Dresslar said, "If we keep going down the road we're headed, debt service is going to devour more than 10 percent of general fund revenues in 2014-2015. That is unprecedented. We need to adopt a smarter, long-term approach to planning and financing infrastructure in this state."[2]
↑ Bloomberg, "Schwarzenegger Signs $11 Billion Water Bond Ballot Measure", November 9, 2009
↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Mercury News, "Californians asked to spend more during unprecedented spree of water spending", November 23, 2009
↑ 3.0 3.1 Mercury News, "Let the water wars begin", December 22, 2009
↑ Mercury News, "Another high-speed rail vote may be needed", January 19, 2010
↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 San Francisco Chronicle, "Water bond offers nearly $2 billion in 'pork'", November 15, 2009
↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Lake County News, "North Coast legislators weigh in on state water package", November 27, 2009
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