SUPPORT

Proposition 40-The California Clean Water, Clean Air,
Safe Neighborhood Parks, and Coastal Protection Act of 2002
Legislative Bond Measure

This bond measure will allow the state to sell $2.6 billion of general obligation bonds to provide funding for a wide variety of projects related to park, coastal, agricultural land, air, and historical resources. These include acquisition, development, restoration, protection, rehabilitation, stabilization, reconstruction, preservation, and interpretation projects.

$225 million will be allocated for acquisition and development of properties in the state park system. (No more than 50 percent can be used for acquisitions.) $267.5 million is designated for acquiring, restoring, preserving, and interpreting California's historical and cultural resources. Land, air, and water conservation programs, including program-associated acquisitions, will receive $1,275 billion. There will also be $832.5 million in local assistance for programs for acquiring and developing neighborhood, community, and regional parks and recreation areas.

Money to pay the principal and interest on the bonds will be appropriated from the state General Fund. According to the Legislative Analyst, the cost to the state would be $4.3 billion over 25 years to repay the bonds at the current interest rate of 5 percent, with an average cost of about $172 million per year. Operating costs for state and local parks would potentially be in the tens of millions of dollars annually, but these costs may be partly offset by revenues, such as entrance fees.

See detailed chart of Funding Categories.

This bond measure was placed on the ballot by a bill passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor. The state has used funds from previous bond issues to purchase, protect, and improve recreational areas (such as parks and beaches), cultural areas (such as historic buildings and museums), and natural areas (such as wilderness trails, wildlife habitat, and coastal resources). The state has also provided money to local governments for similar purposes.

Since 1980, voters have approved about $7.6 billion of general obligation bonds for these purposes, of which $3.8 billion was for improving water quality and supply and $3.8 billion for recreational and cultural areas and natural resource conservation. The last park bond approved by the voters was a legislative measure in March of 2000 (Proposition 12). Park bond measures put on the ballot by the legislature in 1990 and by initiative in 1994 failed passage. As of November 2000, $6.4 billion of the bonds authorized by previous bond acts had been spent or committed to specific projects.

• Proposition 40 is a well-balanced proposal. It will fund water quality and restoration projects in rivers, streams, lakes and watersheds throughout the state. Proposition 40 will also improve air quality by providing funds for regional air districts and for promoting tree planting throughout the state.

• Proposition 40 also includes substantial funds for safe neighborhood parks, including programs to give youth safe recreational alternatives to gangs, drugs, and other harmful activities. It also includes funds for youth to participate in environmental education, outdoor recreation and after school programs, and funds the conservation corps, which give youth opportunities to learn important job skills.

• All areas of California are treated fairly by Proposition 40. Many of the funds are allocated in proportion to population. The minimum grant provided by the per capita program is $220,000 for cities and $1.2 million for counties, enough funds to make a difference in meeting local priorities for acquisition and development of local parks.

• Proposition 40 is the latest of a long line of park bond acts dating back to the 1920s. There has been only one park bond act in the past twelve years. California has added more than five million people since 1988 and must continue to invest in clean water, clean air, places to recreate, and places for children to play safely.

• Funds will be allocated to improve the State Park System and to safeguard California's rich heritage by providing programs for conservation of wildlife, agricultural lands and historical and cultural resources.

• Annual audits, public hearings, and citizen review will provide public input and safeguards to ensure that all funds are spent wisely and as promised.

The rebuttal to the opponents' arguments was signed by Tom Porter, California State Director, AARP; Russell J. "Rusty" Hammer, President, Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce; Monty Holden, Executive Director, California Organization of Police and Sheriffs. Other supporters mentioned in the ballot arguments include League for Coastal Protection, The Nature Conservancy, Latino Issues Forum, National Wildlife Federation, Concerned Citizens of South Central Los Angeles, League for Coastal Protection, Clean Water Action, California Air Pollution Control Officers Association, California Council for Environmental and Economic Balance, California Business Properties Association, the Silicon Valley Manufacturing Group, and State Treasurer Phil Angelides.

Robin Tokmakian, LWVC Natural Resources Director, robint@ucar.edu

Anne Henderson, LWVC Legislative Director, annehenderson@worldnett.att.net

Californians for Safe Neighborhood Parks and Clean Water, Bryan Blum, 916-313-4539, email bblum@voteyeson40.org, www.voteyeson40.org

Editor:

When Californians go to the polls on March 5, we can cast a vote for improving the quality of life in our state. Proposition 40 is an investment in clean water, clean air, better sites for recreation, and places for children to play safely.

Funding from Prop 40 bonds is well balanced. Water quality and river, stream, lake and watershed restoration projects throughout the state will benefit. Prop 40 will also improve air quality by providing funds for regional air districts and projects that promote tree planting. Funds for safe neighborhood parks and youth programs continue our investment in California's future.

Our magnificent State Park System and conservancies badly need the funds Proposition 40 will provide to improve visitor facilities and protect wildlife and habitat. Safeguarding agricultural lands, historical sites, and artifacts rounds out the package. The proposition requires annual audits, public hearings, and citizen review to ensure that all funds are spent wisely and as the public wishes.

Californians have passed a long line of park bond acts dating back to the 1920s, but only one in the past twelve years. California has added more than five million people since 1988, and we must continue our investments in preserving and restoring our natural and cultural heritage.

Vote YES on Proposition 40!