Pork barrel

This article does not receive scheduled updates. If you would like to help our coverage grow, consider donating to Ballotpedia. Contact our team to suggest an update.

Public pensions
State public pension plans
Pension health by state
Pensions on the ballot
Terms and definitions

Pork or Pork barrel is a term that means government spending on a private enterprise expected to bring revenue and money into the district or area. Examples often include cities or towns subsidizing sports teams, the construction of sports arenas and the construction of other entertainment related projects. Ballotpedia released a report on February 1, 2014, which featured four sports arena related subsidies and the controversy surrounding them. The coalition behind an initiative to require voter approval before Sacramento City authorizes any "pork barrel" expenses on sports arenas has taken its name from this term, calling itself Sacramento Taxpayer's Opposed to Pork (STOP).

Relevant ballot measures

Sports arenas

City of Sacramento Voter approval for Public Funding of Professional Sports Arena Act, STOP Initiative (June 2014)
City of Columbus Blue Jackets’ Nationwide Arena Bailout Initiative (May 2014)

Project veto referenda and building restriction measures

• City of San Francisco Voter Approval of Waterfront Construction Exceeding Height Limits Initiative (June 2014)
• Town of Los Gatos Netflix Construction Project Rezoning "Albright Way" Initiative, Measure A (June 2014)
• City of Santa Monica Bergamot Transit Village "Hines Project" Veto Referendum (November 2014)
• City of Eau Claire Voter Approval of Performing Arts Building Initiative (April 2014)
• 8 Washington Street-Referendum, Proposition C (November 2013)
• 8 Washington Street Development-Initiative, Proposition B (November 2013)

See also

• Superbowl report featuring sports arenas on the ballot: fans v. foes
• Other ballot measure related terms and definitions
• Notable local measures on the ballot

Ballotpedia

About

Overview • What people are saying • Support Ballotpedia • Contact • Contribute • Job opportunities

---

Executive: Leslie Graves, Founder and CEO • Gwen Beattie, Chief Operating Officer

Communications: Alison Graves, Director of Communications • Carley Allensworth • Abigail Campbell • Frank Festa • Sarah Groat • Nathaniel Harwood • Dillon Redmond
External Relations: Geoff Pallay, Director of External Relations • Ken Carbullido, Vice President of Election Product and Technology Strategy • Ashley Fleming • Thomas Mardik • Hannah Nelson
Operations: Meghann Olshefski, Director of Operations • Amanda Herbert • Mandy Morris • Caroline Presnell • Kelly Rindfleisch
Tech: Matt Latourelle, Director of Technology Operations • Ryan Burch • Kirsten Corrao • Beth Dellea • Travis Eden • Tate Kamish • Margaret Kearney • Eric Lotto • Joseph Sanchez • Mary Susmitha

Contributors: Scott Rasmussen

---

Editorial Content

Josh Altic, Director of Content • Daniel Anderson, Associate Director of Elections & Data • Cory Eucalitto, Associate Director of Features • Ryan Byrne, Managing Editor of Ballot Measures • Mandy McConnell, Managing Editor of News • Doug Kronaizl, Managing Editor of Local Expansion • Abbey Smith, Managing Editor of Elections • Janie Valentine, Managing Editor of Law • Joel Williams. Managing Editor of Events • Andrew Bahl • Jaclyn Beran • Marielle Bricker • Joseph Brusgard • Emma Burlingame • Kelly Coyle • Jon Dunn • Thomas Ellis • Nicole Fisher • Joseph Greaney • Thomas Grobben • Brianna Hosea • Molly Kehoe • Tyler King • Glorie Martinez • Norm Leahy, Senior Editor • Nathan Maxwell • Jimmy McAllister • Brandon McCauley • Ellie Mikus • Ellen Morrissey • Mackenzie Murphy • Kaley Platek • Samantha Post • Adam Powell • Annelise Reinwald • Ethan Rice • Spencer Richardson • Victoria Rose • Briana Ryan • Myj Saintyl • Maddy Salucka • Emma Soukup • Alexis Thacker • Mina Vogel • Samuel Wonacott • Trenton Woodcox