Sonoma County, CA Ballot

Modifies existing gambling prohibitions to authorize Governor to negotiate compacts with federally recognized Indian tribes, subject to legislative ratification, for operation of slot machines, lottery games, and banking and percentage card games on Indian lands. Fiscal Impact: Uncertain fiscal effect on state and local tax revenues ranging from minor impact to significant annual increases. State gambling license fees of tens of millions of dollars annually.

Proposition 12 Safe Neighborhood Parks, Clean Water, Clean Air, and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2000. (The Villaraigosa-Keeley Act)

This act provides two billion one hundred million dollars ($2,100,000,000) to protect land around lakes, rivers, and streams and the coast to improve water quality and ensure clean drinking water; to protect forests and plant trees to improve air quality; to preserve open space and farmland threatened by unplanned development; to protect wildlife habitats; and to repair and improve the safety of state and neighborhood parks. Fiscal Impact: State cost of $3.6 billion over 25 years (average cost of about $144 million per year) to repay bonds. State and local parks' operating costs of potentially tens of millions of dollars annually.

Proposition 13 Safe Drinking Water, Clean Water, Watershed Protection, and Flood Protection Bond Act

This act provides for a bond issue of one billion nine hundred seventy million dollars ($1,970,000,000) to provide funds for a safe drinking water, water quality, flood protection, and water reliability program. Fiscal Impact: State cost of up to $3.4 billion over 25 years (average cost of about $135 million per year) to repay bonds. Potential unknown local project operation and maintenance costs.

Proposition 14 California Reading and Literacy Improvement and Public Library Construction and Renovation Bond Act of 2000

This act provides for a bond issue of three hundred fifty million dollars ($350,000,000) to provide funds for the construction and renovation of public library facilities in order to expand access to reading and literacy programs in California's public education system and to expand access to public library services for all residents of California. Fiscal Impact: State cost of $600 million over 25 years (average cost of about $24 million per year) to repay bonds. One-time local matching costs of $190 million, plus potential additional operating costs of over $10 million annually.

Proposition 15 The Hertzberg-Polanco Crime Laboratories Construction Bond Act of 1999

This act provides for a bond issue of two hundred twenty million dollars ($220,000,000) to provide funds for a program for the construction, renovation, and infrastructure costs associated with the construction of new local forensic laboratories and the remodeling of existing local forensic laboratories. Fiscal Impact: State cost of $377 million over 25 years (average cost of about $15 million per year) to repay bonds. Local government costs of $20 million (one-time) and potentially millions of dollars in annual operating costs.

Proposition 16 Veterans’ Homes Bond Act of 2000

Fiscal Impact: This proposition would allow the state to sell $50 million in general obligation bonds to (1) replace $24 million in currently authorized lease-payment bonds for new veterans' homes and (2) provide $26 million in additional bonds for new or existing veterans' homes. This would result in a net state cost of about $33 million over 25 years, with costs of around $1 million per year.

Proposition 17 Lotteries. Charitable Raffles

Modifies current constitutional prohibition against private lotteries to permit legislative authorization of raffles conducted by private nonprofit organizations for beneficial and charitable purposes. Fiscal Impact: Probably no significant fiscal impact on state and local governments.

Proposition 18 Murder: Special Circumstances

Provides special circumstances warranting death penalty or life without parole exist for intentional murders committed in connection with kidnapping or arson or committed by "means of" rather than "while" lying in wait. Fiscal Impact: Unknown, probably minor, additional state costs.

Proposition 19 Murder. BART and CSU Peace Officers

Provides second degree murder of peace officer employed by BART or State University is punishable by life imprisonment without possibility of parole where aggravating circumstances are present. Fiscal Impact: Unknown, probably minor, additional state costs.

Proposition 20 California State Lottery. Allocation for Instructional Materials.

Provides one-half of any increase beyond the current amount allocated to public education from state lottery revenues be allocated for purchase of instructional materials. Fiscal Impact: In the near term, tens of millions of dollars in annual lottery revenues that go to public education would be earmarked for instructional materials, with unknown earmarked amounts in future years.

Proposition 21 Juvenile Crime

Increases punishment for gang-related felonies, home-invasion robbery, carjacking, witness intimidation and drive-by shootings; and creates crime of gang recruitment activities. Fiscal Impact: State costs of more than $330 million annually; one-time costs of $750 million. Potential local costs of up to more than $100 million annually, and one-time costs of $200 million to $300 million.

Proposition 22 Limit on Marriages

Adds a provision to the Family Code providing that only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California. Fiscal Impact: Probably no fiscal effect on the state or local governments.

Proposition 23 "None of the Above" Ballot Option

Provides that voters may vote for "none of the above," but such votes will not be counted in determining who wins election. Fiscal Impact: Generally minor costs to state and county governments.

Proposition 25 Election Campaigns. Contributions and Spending Limits. Public Financing. Disclosures

Provides for public financing of candidate and ballot measure campaign costs, disclosure of top contributors and fund-raising time restrictions; establishes contribution, spending limits; and bans corporate contributions. Fiscal Impact: State costs of more than $55 million annually offset to an unknown extent. Potential local government costs of several million dollars annually.

Proposition 26 School Facilities. Local Majority Vote. Bonds, Taxes

Authorizes local voter approval by majority vote, not current two-thirds, for school construction and improvement bonds and property taxes in excess of 1% to pay bonds. Fiscal Impact: Local school costs-- potentially in the hundreds of millions of dollars annually statewide within a decade-- depending on results of voter action on future local school bond issues. Potential state savings in the longer run.

Proposition 27 Elections. Term Limit Declarations for Congressional Candidates

Permits congressional candidates to voluntarily sign non-binding declaration of intention to serve no more than three terms in House of Representatives or two terms in the United States Senate. Requires placement of information on ballots and state-sponsored voter education materials when authorized by candidates. Candidates may appear on ballot without submitting declaration. Fiscal Impact: Unknown, but probably not significant, election costs to the state and counties.

Proposition 28 Repeal of Proposition 10 Tobacco Surtax

Repeals additional $. 50 per pack tax on cigarettes and equivalent increase in tax on tobacco products enacted by Proposition 10. Eliminates funding for Proposition 10 child development and anti-smoking programs. Fiscal Impact: Reduced state revenues and expenditures of $670 million annually. Annual decreases in other state General Fund revenues of $7 million and local government revenues of $6 million. Loss of potential long-term state and local savings.

Proposition 29 1998 Indian Gaming Compacts

A "Yes" vote approves, a "No" vote rejects a 1998 law which authorized certain tribal-state gaming compacts, provided procedures for future negotiations with tribes, and designated the Governor to negotiate with tribes. Fiscal Impact: Probably no significant fiscal impacts on state and local governments.

Proposition 30 Insurance Claims Practices. Civil Remedies.

A "Yes" vote approves, a "No" vote rejects legislation that:

restores right to sue another person's insurer for insurer's unfair claims settlement practices;
allows such lawsuits only if insurer rejects a settlement demand and injured party obtains a larger judgment or award against insured party;
bars such lawsuits against public entities; workers' compensation insurers; and professional liability insurers under certaincircumstances; or if convicted of driving under the influence;
authorizes requests for consensual binding arbitration of claims under $50,001 against parties covered by insurance. Insurers agreeing to arbitration cannot be sued for unfair practices.

Proposition 31 Insurance Claims Practices. Civil Remedy Amendments. Referendum

Local Measures

Measure B Highway Expansion Sales Tax -- County of Sonoma: In order to (1) widen and improve Highway 101 from Windsor to the Sonoma-Marin border; (2) improve or construct major Highway 101 interchanges; and (3) improve sections of Highway 116, shall a 1/2 cent sales tax be levied for a period not to exceed eight (8) years?
Measure C Transit Improvement Sales Tax -- County of Sonoma: In order to (1) repair and improve local streets and roads; (2) implement passenger rail service through Sonoma and Marin counties; (3) expand transit service by increasing bus frequencies and establishing broader service; (4) enhance transit service for seniors and the disabled; and (5) build and improve bicycle and pedestrian paths, shall a 1/4 cent sales tax be levied for a period not to exceed sixteen (16) years?

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