PROP. 76

State Spending and School Funding Limits

This is an initiative constitutional amendment.

Should Californians make major Constitutional changes to create an additional state spending limit, grant the governor substantial new power to unilaterally reduce state spending, and revise key provisions relating to Proposition 98, school and community college funding, and transportation funding authorized by Proposition 42?

Limits state spending to prior year’s level plus three previous years’ average revenue growth. Changes minimum school funding requirements (Proposition 98). Permits Governor, under specified circumstances, to reduce budget appropriations of Governor’s choosing.

Official Text (PDF)

Should voters undo what they asked for in 1988 when they set a baseline for school funding below which the state could never dip? Should the governor have the final say over state funding that is spent on public schools, hospitals, police departments, etc.? Currently, the legislature has the final word — and the governor can only say “yes” or “no.”

• Background, key web sites, public opinion polls, select news and reports by the IGS Library at UC Berkeley
• In Depth Non-Partisan Analysis, League of Women Voters Ca.
• Pros & Cons Analysis, League of Women Voters Ca.
• Notable backers and detractors as well as major campaign contributors, California Voter Foundation
• Official Legislative Analysis, California Legislative Analyst’s Office (PDF)

• Two Perspectives on Prop. 76, interview transcript, California Connected
• Kids Review Bills: Prop 76, California Connected
• Proposition 98: An Introduction, The California Budget Project, which “engages in independent fiscal and policy analysis and public education with the goal of improving public policies affecting the economic and social well-being of low and middle income Californians.”

SmartVoter, EasyVoter