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What is Proposition 53?
Proposition 53 sets aside a designated percentage of the state budget for - uh - for - uh, oh, you know -- infrastructure.
What's that?
You know, roads, reservoirs, parks, highways, bridges, hospitals, colleges (but not community colleges), whatever.
Who picks the projects?
Half the money will be spent by the state and half by local governments.
Which local governments?
I dunno.
How much money is it?
Well, it starts with 1% of the budget in 2006-07 and increases every year to a maximum of 3% -- except that it can increase or decrease depending on how much revenue there is, or how much debt service there is, or how much goes to schools because of Prop 98.
Whose idea was this?
Some legislators said that if this didn't go on the ballot, they wouldn't vote for the budget this year. In their ballot argument for it, Republicans say that there are too many state employees (you know, the ones being cut by $1 billion this year).
So, some politicians want to dedicate part of the general fund to some projects that someone will decide on later. Even though there is not enough money to fund the things that we need now (partly because they refused to vote for any tax increases, even on corporations and the wealthy -- whose taxes have gone down). Why should I vote for this?
You shouldn't.
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