Water Bond Update #00-05
February 18 , 2000

Proposition 13 and Water Supply

You may be asked about the storage component in the water bond, and how this benefits agriculture. The California Farm Bureau Federation has taken a neutral position on Proposition 13, and the Imperial County Farm Bureau has taken an opposed position on the bond.

Here are some points to keep in mind with respect to agricultural water supplies and the water bond:

• More than $900 million of the bond's $1.97 billion is devoted to expanding water supplies.
• By capturing nearly 1,000,000 acre-feet of new water, the bond will provide flexibility in the management of the water system, which will soften federal cutbacks to agricultural water supplies.
• As part of the water bond negotiations, Governor Davis promised $20 million in this year's budget for storage investigations. This money is indeed in the 2000-01 budget.
• By improving the environment, the bond will help insulate agriculture from additional supply cutbacks undertaken for environmental restoration.
• California's water system is interdependent - improvements or setbacks in one segment routinely benefit or harm several other segments.
• At ACWA's February 10 briefing in southern California, Assembly Member Machado, himself a farmer, again stressed Prop. 13's importance for all California, and reminded members that "This bond sets the foundation for water development in California for the next decade or more."

Joint television advertisements for Propositions 12 and 13 are tentatively scheduled to begin airing February 22. Prop. 12, the "Safe Neighborhood Parks, Clean Water, Clean Air, and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2000," would provide $2.1 billion for state and local park projects and protecting watersheds.

The Prop. 13 campaign elected to undertake the joint advertisements because of the two bond measures' similar subject areas. The commercials explain that the two measures enact a "comprehensive program" to protect drinking water, upgrade infrastructure and protect the environment.

Newspapers across the state have dedicated increasing amounts of coverage and editorial support to Proposition 13. In recent weeks, editorials from the following newspapers have endorsed Prop. 13:

San Diego Union Tribune
San Francisco Examiner
Fresno Bee
Eureka Times-Standard
Vacaville Reporter
Oakland Tribune
San Francisco Chronicle
Sacramento Bee
San Jose Mercury News
Santa Barbara News Press
Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Contra Costa Times (by Donald Gordon of the Agricultural Council of California)

While support for Prop. 13 appears to be growing, water districts can and should continue to work to assure the passage of this critical bond measure. As indicated in a legal opinion distributed to members and posted on ACWA's web site, members can present the reasons to vote for Prop. 13. Just keep in mind a few general facts:

• Informational materials should dispassionately present the facts.
• Do not urge a position or course of action.
• Both the consequences of passage and defeat should be set forth in language, if not of equal length, then at least of equal prominence.
• The fairness of the entire body of the material is as important as each sentence.
• Provide information early enough in the campaign so that it does not compete or be confused with advocacy pieces.

This update will be provided weekly to keep members up-to-date on the bond. For more information, contact ACWA Communications Department at (916) 441-4545.