Water Bond Backers Support Effort to Move Campaign to 2012

By Greg Robertson

Gov. Schwarzenegger's announcement late last month that he and legislative leaders would seek to remove the $11 billion water bond from the November ballot and move it to 2012 caught many people be surprise.

But the Water Bond Steering Committee says the decision is the best move to guarantee successful passage of the bond.

"We fully recognize how important it is to pass the water bond sooner rather than later and were looking at every possible scenario to mount a successful campaign this fall," the committee says in a statement on its website. "However, in light of the continued significant economic recession, as well as the massive state budget deficit, passing a bond in this environment would be very challenging and extremely costly.

"Our efforts over the past six months to build an adequate fundraising base made it clear that it would be extremely difficult to raise the funds necessary to deliver our message to the voters."

In announcing his plans, Schwarzenegger said passing the water bond is too important to attempt with so many other distractions in Sacramento right now.

"After reviewing the agenda for this year, I believe our focus should be on the budget -- solving the deficit, reforming out of control pension costs and fixing our broken budget system,” Schwarzenegger said in a statement. "It's critical that the water bond pass, as it will improve California's economic growth, environmental sustainability and water supply for future generations. For that reason, I will work with the legislature to postpone the bond to 2012 and avoid jeopardizing its passage."

Senate leader Darrell Steinberg agrees with Schwarzenegger and will work to get the move approved. A two-thirds vote is needed in both houses to remove Proposition 18 from the November ballot.

Several of the major backers of the bond agreed with the decision.

"The successful implementation of the 2009 comprehensive legislative water package, including a bond to provide appropriate public financing, is of paramount importance to the future of California,” the Association of California Water Agencies said in a statement.

ACWA continues to support the package and its implementation moving forward.

"We recognize that this decision was very difficult to make. However, given the current economic climate and the need to focus on the state's dire budget shortfall, ACWA recognizes that the decision is intended to maximize chances of success for the water package over the next decade."

"Timing is everything, and I'm willing to wait to bolster voter understanding of this critical measure," Sen. Dave Cogdill, R-Modesto, said in a statement.

Beau Goldie, CEO of the Santa Clara Valley Water District, also said it was the right move. Jim Earp, a co-chairman of the coalition backing Proposition 18, also agreed with the move to delay the bond.

"The Water Supply Act is a crucial component of the comprehensive water package that passed in 2009," Schwarzenegger said. "The bond will fund, with local cost-sharing, drought relief, water supply reliability, Delta sustainability, statewide water system operational improvements, conservation and watershed protection, groundwater protection and water recycling and water conservation programs.

"Delaying the bond will not impact other parts of the 2009 water package, such as enhancing the Delta ecosystem, better monitoring groundwater basins, reducing statewide consumption and improving diversion patterns."

Schwarzenegger pointed out that delaying a measure can lead to future success, as was the case with the high-speed rail bond. Originally slated for the 2004 ballot, the vote was delayed twice -- once until 2006 and again until 2008, when voters approved the $9.95 billion measure.

Hundreds of water agencies, districts, associations, business and agricultural associations, local governments and agencies are backing the water bond, including CBIA. A complete list is available on the water measure's website.

The steering committee says postponing the bond until 2012 increases its chance of success and provides additional time to grow a coalition, raise funds, and educate voters about the dire need for the measure.

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Greg Robertson is the editor of California Builder. Reach him at grobertson@cbia.org.