Proposition 68 (2018)
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| Proposition 68 (2018) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Proposition 68 |
| Year | 2018 |
| Jurisdiction | California |
| Type | Ballot proposition |
| Subject | Parks, Environment, Water, and Flood Protection Bond Act of 2018 |
| Outcome | Passed |
Proposition 68 (2018) was a California ballot proposition approved by voters in June 2018 that authorized state general obligation bonds to fund parks, natural resources, water infrastructure, and flood protection projects. The measure directed billions in borrowing to multiple state agencies and local entities, and it intersected with ongoing debates involving environmental organizations, urban planning advocates, the California State Legislature, and litigation in state courts. It followed decades of precedent in California bond measures affecting California Department of Parks and Recreation, California Natural Resources Agency, and water management programs tied to agencies like the California Department of Water Resources.
Background and Legislative History
Proposition 68 emerged from a legislative process involving the California State Legislature, with sponsorship and negotiation among lawmakers including members of the California State Assembly and the California State Senate. It built on earlier bond measures such as the 2006 Proposition 84 (California, 2006), the 2014 Proposition 1 (California, 2014), and the 2012 Proposition 28 (California, 2012), reflecting a pattern where the California Coastal Commission, California Conservancy programs, and agencies like the State Water Resources Control Board sought voter authorization for capital projects. Proponents framed the measure in the context of priorities highlighted by figures and organizations such as Jerry Brown, Gavin Newsom, the Sierra Club, and the Nature Conservancy, while opponents raised concerns similar to critiques voiced in debates over Proposition 2 (California, 2014) and bond measures backed by proponents including Audubon California.
Ballot Measure and Text
The ballot summary for Proposition 68 specified allocations to entities including the California Natural Resources Agency, the California Department of Parks and Recreation, the California Coastal Conservancy, the Wildlife Conservation Board, and the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta Conservancy. The text authorized issuing general obligation bonds to fund programs addressing park creation, water quality projects, climate resilience projects mirrored in plans by California Environmental Protection Agency offices, and flood protection projects similar to efforts overseen by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in collaboration with state partners. Legal drafting involved legislative counsel and referenced statutes administered by agencies such as the Department of Fish and Wildlife and the California Tahoe Conservancy.
Campaigns and Funding
The campaign for Proposition 68 featured coalitions of nonprofit organizations, public agencies, and elected officials. Endorsements came from groups like the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Trust for Public Land, the League of California Cities, and municipal leaders including mayors from cities like Los Angeles and San Diego. Fundraising disclosures showed contributions from philanthropic entities, public employee unions with ties to California Teachers Association activities on parks funding, and private donors who had previously supported measures like Proposition 68 (2018)-aligned initiatives; opposition funding included commentators and organizations that had opposed earlier bonds, echoing critiques found in campaigns around Proposition 13 (1978) and Proposition 52 (2010). Advertising, mailers, and outreach involved partnerships with media outlets in the San Francisco Chronicle and Los Angeles Times markets, as well as organizing by regional groups active in the Sacramento and Bay Area regions.
Election Results
On June 5, 2018, California voters approved Proposition 68 by a majority in the statewide special election, joining other measures on the ballot such as Proposition 69 (2018) and the special primary for offices connected to figures like Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris (whose vacancies and elections were matters of contemporary political discussion). Vote tallies reported by the California Secretary of State indicated geographic patterns where suburban counties and coastal jurisdictions, historically supportive of conservation measures like Proposition 2 (2008), provided strong margins, while some inland and rural counties exhibited lower support similar to trends observed in votes on the 2014 Proposition 1 (California, 2014).
Implementation and Funding Allocations
After passage, allocation of bond proceeds proceeded through grant programs and project agreements administered by the California Natural Resources Agency, the Wildlife Conservation Board, and local entities such as county park departments in Los Angeles County and Orange County. Funds targeted statewide park grants echoing prior efforts by the California State Parks Foundation and water resilience projects coordinated with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and the Central Valley Project stakeholders. Implementation required coordination with federal partners including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and compliance with environmental review procedures involving the California Environmental Quality Act. Projects funded included urban park creation, watershed restoration consistent with priorities in the Delta Stewardship Council strategic plan, and flood protection projects in flood-prone regions like the Sacramento Valley.
Legal Challenges and Controversies
Following enactment, Proposition 68 faced scrutiny over project selections, allocation priorities, and compliance with statutory criteria, prompting administrative reviews and inquiries reminiscent of legal disputes that affected measures such as the 2014 Proposition 1 (California, 2014). Lawsuits brought by local governments, tribal entities including representatives from the Yurok and Hoopa Valley Tribe, and advocacy organizations focused on transparency and adherence to bond language invoked judicial review in California trial courts and appeals like cases before the California Court of Appeal. Controversies also arose over interactions with private development projects and debates involving conservation priorities championed by groups like the Audubon Society and critics associated with fiscal reform advocates who had contested previous state bond packages.