California voters pass Prop. 4, $10 billion bond to fight effects of climate change

California voters authorized $10 billion bond to bolster the state’s fight against climate change, with final election results showing that Proposition 4 was approved by 57% of the electorate.

Prop. 4 authorizes the state to borrow for a broad range of programs, from water conservation and recycling projects to increased forest thinning, planting more trees in cities and restoring coastal wetlands to protect against rising sea levels.

Such definitive results underscore the state’s strong appetite for government efforts to tackle the impacts of warming temperatures. Californians have become all too familiar with extreme drought, wildfires, heat waves and flooding in recent years.

At least 40% of the bond money is required to be spent in disadvantaged communities, which often have the fewest acres of parks, the most air pollution and largest numbers of people at risk from extreme heat and other weather events.

More than 100 environmental groups supported the measure, many of which celebrated the results Wednesday. Environmental advocates had Sacramento leaders to put Prop. 4 on the ballot to replace roughly $10 billion in climate change funding cut from this year’s state budget.

“This result demonstrates voters want California to be at the forefront of climate action because our health, lives, and livelihoods are at risk,” said Katelyn Roedner Sutter, state director of the Environmental Defense Fund. “Voters understand the wisdom of investing in proven solutions now to keep costs down for taxpayers and families instead of waiting until disaster strikes.”

Democratic state lawmakers also backed the measure as a way to shore up state climate resources under a possible Trump administration, which has promised to pull the nation out of international climate agreements and ramp up fossil fuel production.

Opposing taxpayer groups and leading legislative Republicans said the bond is fiscally irresponsible, and borrows money for policies they believe should come from the state’s general fund. If we were to enter a recession, they argued, bond obligations could stress the budget.

“People need to understand that with any bond, the repayment costs are much higher,” said Jon Coupal, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, the state’s leading taxpayer rights organization. “There might be buyers remorse.“

While several statewide ballot measures faced a competitive vote, Prop. 4 was expected to pass.

A survey in September of 1,071 likely voters by the Public Policy Institute of California found Prop. 4 leading 65% to 33%. Its support was strongest in the Bay Area and Los Angeles, and weakest in the Central Valley.

Repaying the money could cost $400 million a year over 40 years, according to a legislative analysis, meaning taxpayers could spend $16 billion total on the measure.

The $10 billion bond is not specifically earmarked by line item. Here’s how it would be spent:

▪ $3.8 billion for water projects, including groundwater storage, recycled water, desalination and reservoirs

▪ $1.5 billion for wildfire resilience, including by thinning forests and using controlled burns

▪ $1.2 billion for sea level rise projects, mainly by restoring beaches, wetlands and coastal bluffs

▪ $1.2 billion for wildlife, from restoring fish populations to building freeway crossings for wildlife

▪ $850 million for renewable energy and clean air programs, including offshore wind and solar

▪ $700 million for parks and outdoor access

▪ $450 million for extreme heat mitigation, such as green spaces in cities and schools

▪ $300 million for farm projects such as water conservation and soil health programs

This story was originally published November 5, 2024 at 10:03 PM with the headline "California voters pass Prop. 4, $10 billion bond to fight effects of climate change."