Voters approve climate funding and public safety bonds by wide margins

By Kristine Guerrero, director of public affairs

Voters left little doubt about where they stand on public safety and climate change last week when they approved two Cal Cities-supported ballot measures by hefty margins.

Proposition 36 passed by 70% statewide and secured a majority of votes in every county - no small feat for any statewide measure. Proponents touted it as a bipartisan, commonsense approach to reducing repeat retail theft. The measure also increases penalties for fentanyl sales and provides police with more tools to increase safety without returning to mass incarcerations.

Cal Cities led legislative hearing testimony in support of Prop. 36, helped educate members on the measure's impacts, and helped organize several statewide press conferences and events this election season. Cal Cities will continue to work on the measure's implementation, along with a package of retail theft bills passed by the Legislature this summer.

Prop. 4, which will provide $10 billion in climate resiliency programs for cities throughout the state, passed by almost 58%.

"[Prop. 4] will provide millions of Californians with secure access to clean drinking water, help protect millions of homes from wildfire destruction, and provide funding for cooling centers to shield people from extreme heat," said Carolyn Coleman, Cal Cities executive director and CEO. "This bond ensures our cities are prepared to support the needs of Californians today and for generations to come."

Cal Cities pushed for the climate bond to move forward in the Legislature this year and adopted a support position after lawmakers qualified it for the November ballot. Cal Cities championed the bond by providing tools for cities to pass resolutions and hosted educational webinars to prepare cities for its different funding opportunities. Cal Cities will continue its implementation and education work so that cities can access this much-needed funding.

Voters reject changing voting thresholds for local bonds

Unfortunately, voters were not as supportive of Prop. 5 this election cycle. The measure would have lowered the voter threshold to pass local bonds for affordable housing and infrastructure, a bar already set for school construction bonds.

"California cities need every tool available to address our affordable housing crisis and ensure our local infrastructure remains safe, reliable, and accessible," Coleman said. "Prop. 5 would have made it easier for communities to fund the public infrastructure and housing their residents need. Cal Cities is disappointed in the outcome and committed to working with the Legislature next year to explore new ways to invest in our local economies and uplift our communities."

It's not yet clear what lawmakers plan to do in the next session to help cities better respond to the state's infrastructure and affordable housing crisis. But with housing playing a big part in this year's national election results, it's likely many legislators are already eying even more changes for 2025.