2018 California Proposition 68 Explained

Proposition 68
Natural Resources Bond
Country:	California
Yes:	3,808,000
No:	2,831,899
Total:	6,639,899
Mapcaption:	Results by county

California Proposition 68 (also the Natural Resources Bond or the California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection, and Outdoor Access for All Act of 2018) was a legislatively referred constitutional amendment that appeared on ballots in California in the June primary election in 2018. It was a $4.1bn bond measure to fund parks, environmental projects, water infrastructure projects and flood protection measures throughout California.

Proposal

The Proposition would allow the State of California to borrow $4.1bn using a municipal bond scheme in order to fund parks, water and flood protection infrastructure and various environmental projects. The Proposition set allocation of these funds between different strategies:

• Natural Resource Conservation and Resiliency - $1.547bn
  • State conservancies and wildlife conservation - $767m
  • Climate preparedness and habitat resiliency - $443m
  • Ocean and coastal protection - $175m
  • River and waterway improvements - $162m
• Parks and recreation - $1.283bn
  • Parks in neighbourhoods with few parks - $725m
  • Local and regional parks - $285m
  • State park restoration, preservation and protection - $218m
  • Trails, greenways, and rural recreation - $55m
• Water - $1.27bn
  • Flood protection - $550m
  • Groundwater recharge and cleanup - $370m
  • Safe drinking water - $250m
  • Water recycling - $100m

The cost to the public was estimated to be $7.8bn after paying off interest, or an average annual repayment of $200m for forty years.

Campaign

Support

Proposition 68 was authored by State Senator Kevin de León.^[1] The 'Yes' campaign focused mainly on the improvements the Proposition would bring to parks, saying that it would remedy years of "under-investment" in environmental infrastructure in poorer communities.^[2] 'Yes' supporters spent more than $9m throughout the campaign.^[3]

Endorsements

• Jerry Brown, then-Governor of California^[4]
• Gavin Newsom, then-Lieutenant Governor of California
• Antonio Villaraigosa, former Los Angeles mayor
• League of California Cities, association of California's cities^[5]
• Los Angeles Times, the United States' fifth largest newspaper, based in Los Angeles^[6]
• The Sacramento Bee, Sacramento's largest newspaper^[7]
• Daily Bruin, University of California, Los Angeles newspaper^[8]
• The Mercury News, paper from San Jose, California^[9]
• The Outdoor Industry Association^[10]
• Save the Redwoods League^[11]
• Peninsula Open Space Trust

Opposition

Opposition to Proposition 68 mainly argued that instead of issuing debt, the state should fund parks and environmental projects through California's general fund. It was also noted that although the 'Yes' campaign was promoting the Proposition on its benefits to parks, less than one third of the money would actually go towards parks and recreation.

Endorsements

• John Moorlach, State Senator
• Andrea Seastrand, former House member
• Jon Coupal, President of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association
• Peace and Freedom Party, left-wing political party^[12]
• Chico Enterprise-Record, newspaper of Chico, California^[13]

Results

Yes/No Statement

A "yes" vote on Proposition 68 proposes: The state could sell $4.1 billion in general obligation bonds to fund various natural resources-related programs such as for habitat conservation, parks, and water-related projects. A "no" vote on Proposition 68 proposes: The state could not sell $4.1 billion in general obligation bonds to fund various natural resources-related programs.^[14]

Results

Proposition 68 gained 3,808,000 yes votes and 2,831,899 no votes (a total of 6,639,899 votes), so passing with 57.35% approval

Notes and References

1. Web site: California's Prop 68 . . 8 May 2020.
2. Web site: Ravani . Sarah . Garofoli . Joe . Prop. 68 passes to inject $4.1 billion into CA water, land conservation projects . . 8 May 2020 . 6 June 2018.
3. Web site: Cart . Julie . Parks and politics: What you need to know about Propositions 68 and 70 . CalMatters . 9 May 2020 . 30 May 2018.
4. Web site: Austin . Paige . What Is Proposition 68? Voter Guide for 2018 California Measures . . 8 May 2020 . 18 May 2018.
5. Web site: California Newspapers Endorse League-Supported Propositions 68, 69 and 72 on the June Ballot . . 8 May 2020 . 15 May 2018.
6. Web site: Endorsement: Yes on Proposition 68 to preserve parks, protect water supply and enhance our climate resilience . . 8 May 2020 . 26 April 2018.
7. Web site: Vote 'yes' on all the June 2018 ballot measures but one . . 8 May 2020 . 22 March 2018.
8. Web site: California 2018 primary election: Yes on Proposition 68 . . 9 May 2020 . 3 June 2018.
9. Web site: Editorial: Prop. 68 water, parks bond deserves Californians' support . . 9 May 2020 . 10 March 2018.
10. Web site: California Proposition 68, Parks, Environment, and Water Bond . Outdoor Industry Association . 8 May 2020 . 13 July 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180713231917/https://outdoorindustry.org/california-proposition-68/ . dead .
11. Web site: Rogers . Paul . Proposition 68: Will voters approve $4.1 billion for parks and water projects? . . 8 May 2020 . 21 May 2018.
12. Web site: Election 2018: Peace and Freedom Party endorsements for ballot propositions 68, 69, 70, 71 and 72 . . 8 May 2020 . 14 May 2018 . 10 September 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200910151702/https://www.peaceandfreedom.org/home/news/general/1420-california-ballot-propositions-2018 . dead .
13. Web site: Editorial: Vote no on Proposition 68, state's parks and water bond . . 9 May 2020 . 21 May 2018.
14. Web site: Proposition 68 . . 8 May 2020 . 5 June 2018.