California High-Speed Rail Bond Suspension Initiative (2016)
| California High-Speed Rail Bond Suspension Initiative | |
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| Election date November 8, 2016 | |
| Topic Bond issues | |
| Status Not on the ballot | |
| Type State statute | Origin Citizens |
| Voting on Bond Issues | |||||
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| Ballot Measures | |||||
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| Not on ballot | |||||
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The High-Speed Rail Bond Suspension Initiative (#15-0109A1) was a proposed initiative and was not put on the November 8, 2016, ballot in California as an initiated state statute.
The measure would have suspended the state's existing high-speed rail project and prevent the sale of the remaining amount in bonds previously approved to construct the system. Unspent bond proceeds would be redirected to other purposes approved by voters in the 2016 election, or to retiring outstanding rail bonds.[1]
Proponents that submitted this measure also submitted a ballot proposal that would reallocate up to $10.7 billion in unused bonds, $8 billion of which would be from existing high-speed rail purposes, to fund water storage projects.
Text of measure
Ballot title
The official ballot title was as follows:[2]
| “ | High-Speed Rail. No Issuance or Sale of Future Bonds. Suspension of Project. Initiative Statute.[3] | ” |
Ballot summary
The official ballot summary was as follows:[2]
| “ | Prevents issuance and sale of remaining amount of high-speed rail bonds previously approved by voters to initiate construction of high-speed train system. Redirects unspent high-speed rail bond proceeds to any other purpose approved by voters in separate measure at same election, or, if none, to retiring outstanding high-speed rail bonds. Suspends high-speed rail project, except to study, using state general funds only, feasibility of completing full route from San Francisco to Los Angeles with Sacramento and San Diego connections. Establishes process for preserving project assets and retiring pre-existing obligations.[3] | ” |
Full text
The full text of the measure could be found here.
Fiscal impact
Note: The fiscal impact statement for a California ballot initiative authorized for circulation is jointly prepared by the state's legislative analyst and its director of finance. The statement was as follows:[2]
| “ | State savings of up to about $700 million annually in debt-service costs, depending on the actual reduction in bond funds spent as a result of this measure. Other potential fiscal effects (such as changes in state spending and loss of federal funds), depending on whether the state continued to pursue a high-speed rail project in the future.[3] | ” |
Path to the ballot
- See also: California signature requirements
- Robert Huff, George Runner and Charles H. Bell submitted a letter requesting a title and summary on December 14, 2015.[1]
- A title and summary were issued by California's attorney general's office on January 25, 2016.[2]
- 365,880 valid signatures are required for qualification purposes.
- Supporters had until July 25, 2016, to collect the required signatures.
State profile
| Demographic data for California | ||
|---|---|---|
| California | U.S. | |
| Total population: | 38,993,940 | 316,515,021 |
| Land area (sq mi): | 155,779 | 3,531,905 |
| Race and ethnicity** | ||
| White: | 61.8% | 73.6% |
| Black/African American: | 5.9% | 12.6% |
| Asian: | 13.7% | 5.1% |
| Native American: | 0.7% | 0.8% |
| Pacific Islander: | 0.4% | 0.2% |
| Two or more: | 4.5% | 3% |
| Hispanic/Latino: | 38.4% | 17.1% |
| Education | ||
| High school graduation rate: | 81.8% | 86.7% |
| College graduation rate: | 31.4% | 29.8% |
| Income | ||
| Median household income: | $61,818 | $53,889 |
| Persons below poverty level: | 18.2% | 11.3% |
| Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015) Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in California. **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here. | ||
Presidential voting pattern
- See also: Presidential voting trends in California
California voted for the Democratic candidate in all seven presidential elections between 2000 and 2024.
More California coverage on Ballotpedia
- Elections in California
- United States congressional delegations from California
- Public policy in California
- Endorsers in California
- California fact checks
- More...
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 California Secretary of State, "Full text," accessed January 28, 2016
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 California Secretary of State, "Initiatives and Referenda Cleared for Circulation," accessed January 28, 2016
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
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