Puneet Varma (Editor)

California Proposition 51 (2002)

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Proposition 51 was a California ballot proposition on the November 5, 2002 ballot (as distinguished from the Proposition 51 on the June 1986 ballot, the "Multiple Defendants Tort Damage Liability Act," which resulted in the enactment of Civil Code Section 1431.2) (http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/California_Proposition_51_(1986)). It was officially titled Traffic Congestion Relief and Safe School Buses Act. It failed to pass with 2,774,539 (41.4%) votes in favor and 3,922,590 (58.6%) against. It was placed on the ballot through the initiative process.

The question before voters was:

Should the sales and use taxes raised from the sale or lease of motor vehicles be permanently allocated to specific transportation projects?

Official summary

  • Creates "Traffic Congestion Relief and Safe School Bus Trust Fund."
  • Redistributes portion of existing state revenues from motor vehicle sales/leases from General Fund to Trust Fund for transportation, environmental, and safety programs.
  • Allocates portion of these funds for: school bus safety; clean air programs; highway improvements; mass transit improvements including bus purchase, commuter and light rail expansion.
  • Provides funds for environmental enhancement programs and traffic mitigation programs.
  • Allocates money to 45 specific projects. For remainder of Trust Fund, specifies distribution percentages, restricts fund uses, requires accountability mechanisms.

    • Summary of Legislative Analyst's Estimate of Net State and Local Government Fiscal Impact:

  • Redirects specified General Fund revenues to state and local transportation-related purposes of about $420 million in 2002–03, $910 million in 2003–04, and increasing amounts annually thereafter, depending on the increase in the sale and leasing of motor vehicles.

    • References

    California Proposition 51 (2002) Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA