On Thursday, Board of Equalization member George Runner and Senator Bob Huff of San Dimas filed language for a potential ballot imitative that would give Californians the option of shifting $8 billion in bond money that was allocated for California’s high-speed rail project to build water infrastructure. In addition, the measure would authorize over $2 billion in unspent water bond money to be used on constructing water storage. The proposal would also amend California’s Constitution to make drinking water accessibility and irrigation higher of a priority from California’s extremely limited water supply.
“This initiative secures our water future by building long-overdue expansions of existing facilities and new projects to store, deliver and recycle water for our families, farms and businesses,” Huff said in a statement.
Whether or not the measure makes it to the ballot is up in the air and depends significantly on the amount of money supporters can muster up for the signature-gathering that is required to qualify the proposal.
While Runner is confident in the campaign’s ability to gather the money, it is believed that Governor Brown will us his $20 million in campaign cash to fight the proposed ballot measure.