Proposition 68 is a $4 billion parks, environment and water bond that will appear on the June 2018 ballot. The Proposition was put on the ballot by the passage of SB 5 (Chapters 582, 2017). If Proposition 68 is enacted by a majority “yes” vote it would provide significant funding for parks, water and wildlife conservation through the issuance of $4 billion in general obligation bonds. There is significant focus in the proposed allocations of this bond to provide funding to park-poor and disadvantaged communities. The Bond defines “Disadvantaged community” as a community with a median household income less than 80 percent of the statewide average. This bond includes several allocations that will be of interest to counties including $18 million for improvements to county fairgrounds and $30 million for counties and regional park districts to make park improvements. It also allocates $200 million for a per capita park improvements grant program with 40% of the $200 million made available to counties, regional parks and open space districts. In addition, there is significant funding for water infrastructure improvement projects; providing up to $100 million for stormwater flood protection and $100 million for multi-benefit flood control projects.  
  
SB 5passed both houses of the Legislature on the final day of the legislative session and was signed by Governor Brown on October 15th, 2017. The passage of SB 5 was a top legislative priority of Senate Leader Kevin DeLeon. SB 5 was DeLeon’s second bond to come before the voters. Senator De Leon also authored the last parks and water bond to appear before the voters , Proposition 84 on the 2006 ballot. Proposition 84 passed by 53.9% and authorized $5.4 billion in general obligation bonds to improve parks, protect natural resources, and improve water supply, quality and safety. Despite this investment, the need continues to grow. The California Park & Recreation Society conducted a survey of local and regional park districts to assess unmet need. 45 out of 500 agencies responded and estimated a total unmet need of $1.8 B for local parks. In addition, the Department of Parks and Recreation estimates that there is over  
$1.2 billion in deferred maintenance cost throughout California’s state park system.  
Proposition Summary: Proposition 68 includes allocations in four major categories:  
· Park improvement –$1.2 billion in proposed allocations  
· Flood protection – $550 million in proposed allocations  
· Drinking water and groundwater improvements – $1 billion in proposed allocations  
· Funding for climate resiliency and state conservancies –$1.3 billion in allocations  
  
Proposition 68 also focuses on park deficient communities. The measure would require that between 15 and 20 percent of the bond’s funds, depending on the type of project, be dedicated to projects in communities with median household incomes less than 60 percent of the statewide average.  
  
The monies allocated for flood protection are focused mainly in the Central Valley and Delta, but also include $100 million for storm water flood prevention projects and $100 million for multibenefit flood projects across the state. The allocations for water projects include funding for drinking water improvements and groundwater protection in the San Joaquin Valley, San Gabriel, Orange County, and San Fernando Valley. Finally, the allocations for conservancies and resiliency programs provide funds to all the state conservancies and fund forest adaptation, fire resiliency, and other various fish and wildlife projects. For a more detailed description of the bond and its chapters see attachment three.

The County will not have an official position on this measure from which to advocate.