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Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009

Governor signs $11.1B water bond; now it's up to voters

Proponents expect a tough sell come election time next November.

FRIANT -- With Millerton Lake as a backdrop, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed an $11.1 billion water bond Monday that proponents acknowledged will be a tough sell with voters.

Schwarzenegger was flanked by legislators, local elected officials, farmers, and members of the California Latino Water Coalition during the afternoon ceremony.

"I am ecstatic to be here today to celebrate this historic accomplishment," Schwarzenegger said. "Almost three years ago I stood here in front of Friant Dam and promised the people of California and the people of the Central Valley that I would do everything I can to rebuild California's crumbling water infrastructure. Today we are delivering on that promise."

The governor said it will be up to those involved in the fight for water to encourage public support for the bond, which will be on the ballot next November. He also said many of the groups that have previously fought each other on water legislation have come together to support the package.

"It was courageous for all of them to do this," he said. "They all compromised and they all came together."

Schwarzenegger was joined by a number of Valley leaders including Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin, former Fresno Mayor Alan Autry, comedian and California Latino Water Coalition member Paul Rodriguez and Rep. Jim Costa, D-Fresno.

The $11.1 billion bond -- the cornerstone of the Legislature's five-bill water package -- would be more than double the size of the largest water bond in state history. It could potentially include money for a dam east of Fresno, underground water banking, groundwater protection, water recycling, regional projects and environmental upgrades in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

Sen. Dave Cogdill, R-Modesto, who wrote the bond measure, said much is at stake in the Valley if the bond does not pass, including the possibility of further job losses and more fallowed acres.

Westside farmers, suffering from three dry years and environmental restrictions, have fallowed thousands of acres because they lack enough water.

"This will be a real difficult campaign," Cogdill said. "This is not the best time to bring an $11 billion issue before the voters." However, he remains hopeful that once voters understand the benefits of the bond, they will approve it.

"And if they agree, we will be off and running," he said.

Opponents of the bond said the package is ill-timed.

"We can't justify spending billions on dams that only benefit a few -- especially in today's fiscal climate," said Jim Metropulos, a Sierra Club California lobbyist. "We have a water crisis today. This proposed bond wastes $3 billion on projects that will take decades to build before producing a single drop of water."

At its peak, the bond would cost the state up to $809.3 million in annual debt service, assuming a 30-year payment schedule, according to the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst's Office.

Fiscal conservatives say the state already is riddled with debt and taxpayers can't afford more.

"The state is using a credit card to pay for dams, and as long as they have it out they have decided to max it out," said John Fleischman, a vice chairman of the California Republican Party and editor of Flash Report, a conservative Web log.

Federal officials applauded the state's efforts to fix the ongoing water crisis, while reminding Valley farmers that it is also working on solutions.

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said in a statement Monday that his agency is committed to funding and proceeding with construction of several projects designed to reduce the effect of environmental restrictions on the delta.

Manuel Hernandez of Kerman, who owns several rental properties on the Westside, attended Monday's ceremony to show his support.

"This is good news," Hernandez said, adding that more work is ahead in convincing voters to approve the bond. "This is not a sure thing."