2016 California Proposition 53

none February 2026 Proposition 53 Voter Approval of Revenue Bonds 6508909 6660555 14610509 19411771 CA-08112016-ballot-53-counties.svg County results Yes #B6C8D9 50–60% 1px #AAAAAA solid #7D9CBB 60–70% 1px #AAAAAA solid No #DEDEBD 50–60% 1px #AAAAAA solid #BCBC83 60-70% 1px #AAAAAA solid Source: California Secretary of StateStatement of Vote - November 8, 2016, General Election December 16, 2016 http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/prior-elections/statewide-election-results/general-election-november-8-2016/statement-vote/ January 7, 2017 Proposition 53 was a California ballot proposition on the November 8, 2016 ballot. It would have required voter approval for issuing revenue bonds exceeding $2 billion. Arguments in favor of the measure stated that it would require politicians to provide estimates of how much a project would cost, as well as give voters a say before taking on large debt. The measure followed similar practice as with general obligation bonds, which currently require voter approval before the state can use them to pay for a project. Arguments against the measure stated that it would negatively impact local control over projects by allowing statewide votes on smaller community projects. Additionally, the term project was not defined and it was unclear which projects might be affected by the measure.California Proposition 53, Voter Approval Requirement for Revenue Bonds above $2 Billion (2016) https://ballotpedia.org/California_Proposition_53,_Voter_Approval_Requirement_for_Revenue_Bonds_above_$2_Billion_(2016)#cite_note-12 Ballotpedia 12 November 2016Official Voter Information Guide http://vig.cdn.sos.ca.gov/2016/general/en/pdf/complete-vig.pdf California Secretary of State 25 September 2016 Cities, counties, schools districts, and community college districts were specifically excluded from the measure’s definition of “state”.Orr Katie Election 2016: Proposition 64 http://elections.kqed.org/measures/2027/info/proposition-64 20 October 2016 KQED News 20 October 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20161020174010/http://elections.kqed.org/measures/2027/info/proposition-64 dead However, the California Legislative Analyst's Office warned that local governments sometimes partner with the state government to get lower interest rates on government bonds, which could have required statewide voter approval of local projects under the measure. It was unlikely that many projects would have been affected by the measure, though it could have affected large-scale projects such as California High-Speed Rail and California Water Fix and Eco Restore.Skelton George Proposition 53 is a ballot measure Gov. Brown hates, but it's one voters should love http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-sac-skelton-voter-approval-revenue-bonds-20160919-snap-story.html Los Angeles Times 25 September 2016 Proponents spent $4.6 million fighting for the measure, all of it from California Delta farmer Dino Cortopassi and his wife. Cortopassi has been an outspoken critic of the planned Water Fix tunnels underneath the delta. Opponents spent $10.9 million fighting against the measure, with the top donor being $4.1 million from Governor Jerry Brown’s 2014 campaign funds. Other top opposition donors included the California Democratic Party, a labor coalition, venture capitalist John Doerr, and the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. The measure was opposed by the editorial boards of the Los Angeles Times,The Editorial Board of the Los Angeles Times The problem Proposition 53 aims to solve is speculative, but the damage it could inflict is very real http://www.latimes.com/opinion/editorials/la-ed-proposition-53-20160914-snap-story.html 20 October 2016 Los Angeles Times 15 September 2016 the San Francisco Chronicle,The Editorial Board of the San Francisco Chronicle A one-man crusade isn't the way to run California's finances http://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/editorials/article/A-one-man-crusade-isn-t-the-way-to-run-9193825.php 20 October 2016 San Francisco Chronicle 31 August 2016 and The Sacramento Bee.The Editorial Board of the Sacramento Bee Beware of quick fix offered by wealthy farmer's initiative https://www.sacbee.com/opinion/editorials/article100242192.html 20 October 2016 The Sacramento Bee 6 September 2016 Firefighters opposed the measure, warning that there was no exemption for disaster funding. Cities and local water districts were also opposed. References External links Yes on Proposition 53 No on Proposition 53 Category:2016 California ballot propositions Category:Bonds (finance) Category:Failed amendments to the Constitution of California