$9.3 billion water bond proposal goes to lawmakers
source: http://origin.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_9842934
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$9.3 billion water bond proposal goes to lawmakers
By Mike Taugher
Contra Costa Times
Article Launched: 07/10/2008 04:34:42 PM PDT
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sen. Dianne Feinstein floated a $9.3 billion proposal for new dams and Delta projects Thursday in what amounted to a last-ditch attempt to get lawmakers on board with a water bond package in time for November's elections.
The plan, however, got a cool reception in the capitol where lawmakers are struggling with an estimated $15.2 billion budget deficit and mindful that voters just two years ago approved billions of dollars in mostly unused bonds for some of the same initiatives.
"California's future can't tolerate the instability we have in the Delta," said Schwarzenegger's top water adviser, Water Resources Director Lester Snow. "California needs more storage — there's really no question about that."
Most of the money in the measure submitted Thursday would go to three areas: Delta levees, water quality and ecosystem; grants to local and regional water agencies for regional projects; and water storage projects.
The package contains $3 billion that could be used to build new dams and expand water storage capacity.
The other two central elements of the package — regional grants and Delta issues — have money available that has not yet been spent.
Proposition 84, the $5.4 billion statewide environment and water measure passed in 2006, made $1 billion available for regional water projects. That same year, Proposition 1E authorized $4.1 billion for Delta and upstream levee improvements.
RePrintPrint Email
$9.3 billion water bond proposal goes to lawmakers
By Mike Taugher
Contra Costa Times
Article Launched: 07/10/2008 04:34:42 PM PDT
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sen. Dianne Feinstein floated a $9.3 billion proposal for new dams and Delta projects Thursday in what amounted to a last-ditch attempt to get lawmakers on board with a water bond package in time for November's elections.
The plan, however, got a cool reception in the capitol where lawmakers are struggling with an estimated $15.2 billion budget deficit and mindful that voters just two years ago approved billions of dollars in mostly unused bonds for some of the same initiatives.
"California's future can't tolerate the instability we have in the Delta," said Schwarzenegger's top water adviser, Water Resources Director Lester Snow. "California needs more storage — there's really no question about that."
Most of the money in the measure submitted Thursday would go to three areas: Delta levees, water quality and ecosystem; grants to local and regional water agencies for regional projects; and water storage projects.
The package contains $3 billion that could be used to build new dams and expand water storage capacity.
The other two central elements of the package — regional grants and Delta issues — have money available that has not yet been spent.
Proposition 84, the $5.4 billion statewide environment and water measure passed in 2006, made $1 billion available for regional water projects. That same year, Proposition 1E authorized $4.1 billion for Delta and upstream levee improvements.
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