Gov. Schwarzenegger Issues Statement Regarding the Water Supply Act of 2010

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on Tuesday, June 29, issued the following statement regarding the Water Supply Act of 2010:

“After reviewing the agenda for this year, I believe our focus should be on the budget -- solving the deficit, reforming out of control pension costs and fixing our broken budget system. It's critical that the water bond pass, as it will improve California's economic growth, environmental sustainability and water supply for future generations. For that reason, I will work with the legislature to postpone the bond to the next ballot and avoid jeopardizing its passage.”
 

The Water Supply Act is a crucial component of the comprehensive water package that passed in 2009. The bond will fund, with local cost-sharing, drought relief, water supply reliability, Delta sustainability, statewide water system operational improvements, conservation and watershed protection, groundwater protection and water recycling and water conservation programs.
Delaying the bond will not impact other parts of the 2009 water package, such as enhancing the Delta ecosystem, better monitoring groundwater basins, reducing statewide consumption and improving diversion patterns.
 

In May 2004, state leaders passed a bill to delay voting on the high-speed rail bond until November 2006, and later delayed the vote again until November 2008, when it eventually passed as Proposition 1A. The voters' approval of Proposition 1A in 2008 made a $9.95 billion bond-funded down payment on high-speed rail in California.