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<br />LAO: <br /> <br />. <br />$urc" <br />Legislative Analyst's Office ~lnollMlOfI <br />CiJUfomla's Honpartlun Flsc.1 and Policy Achis,u ~:::: <br /> <br />78 <br />age 9 <br /> <br />I: 'i.r:.~.i.!i; "i! ~~j;. <br /> <br />"::;i'I:)~;~~-.:''l',':''.:;~s>;.>;,>i:'r.::m~._ <br /> <br />Proposition 84 <br /> <br />Water Quality, Safety and Supply. Flood Control. Natural Resource Protection. Park <br />Improvements. Bonds. Initiative Statute. <br /> <br />Background <br /> <br />State Spending on Resources Programs. The state operates a variety of programs to conserve <br />natural resources, protect the environment, provide flood control, and offer recreational opportunities <br />for the public. The state also operates a program to plan for future water supplies, flood control, and <br />other water-related requirements of a growing population. In addition to direct state expenditures, the <br />state also provides grants and loans to local governments and nonprofit organizations for similar <br />purposes. These programs support a variety of specific purposes. including: <br /> <br />. Natural Resource Conservation. The state has provided funds to purchase, protect, and <br />improve natural areas-including wilderness and open-space areas; wildlife habitat; coastal <br />wetlands; forests; and rivers, lakes. streams, and their watersheds. <br />. Safe Drinking Water. The state has made loans and grants to public water systems for facility <br />improvements to meet state and federal safe drinking water standards. <br />. Flood Control. The state has funded the construction and repair of flood control projects in <br />the state Central Valley flood control system. The state has also provided financial assistance <br />to local agencies for local flood control projects in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta <br />and in other areas outside the Central Valley. <br />. Other Water Quality and Water Supply Projects. The state has made available funds for <br />various other projects throughout the state that improve water quality and/or the reliability of <br />water supplies. For example, the state has provided loans and grants to local agencies for the <br />construction and implementation of wastewater treatment, water conservation, and water <br />pollution reduction projects. <br />· State and Local Parks. The state operates the state park system, and has provided funds to <br />local governments for the acquisition, maintenance, and operation of local and regional parks. <br /> <br />Funding for Resources Programs. Funding for these various programs has traditionally come from <br />General Fund revenues, federal funds, and general obligation bonds. Since 1996. voters have <br />authorized approximately $11 billion in general obligation bonds for various resources purposes. Of <br />this amount, approximately $1.4 billion is projected to remain available for new projects as of June 30, <br />2006, primarily for water-related purposes. Legislation enacted earlier this year provides $500 million <br />from the General Fund for emergency levee repairs and other flood control-related expenditures. <br /> <br />Proposal <br /> <br />This initiative allows the state to sell $5.4 billion in general obligation bonds for safe drinking water, <br />water quality, and water supply; flood control; natural resource protection; and park improvements. <br />(See "An Overview of State Bond Debt" for basic information on state general obligation bonds.) <br />Figure 1 summarizes the purposes for which the bond money would be available for expenditure by <br />various state agencies and for loans and grants, primarily to local agencies and nonprofit <br />organizations. In order to spend most of these bond funds, the measure requires the Legislature to <br />appropriate them in the annual budget act or other legislation. <br />