Auto Club Says Vote Yes on Proposition 22

Proposition 22 - Prohibits The State From Borrowing Or Taking Funds Used For Transportation, Redevelopment, Or Local Government Projects And Services

Whenever the state budget slips into a deficit-which, unfortunately, happens a lot these days-officials put together schemes to help balance it, often by taking or borrowing funds dedicated to transportation improvements or local government services. The result is poor road conditions, closed libraries, and reduced public safety.

Proposition 22 would amend the state’s constitution to protect funds dedicated to transportation and local services, including state gasoline and diesel fuel taxes and local sales taxes approved by voters for road and transit projects. The proposition is sponsored by the California Alliance for Jobs, League of California Cities, and the California Transit Association, and is supported by a large coalition made up of hundreds of cities, chambers of commerce, transportation agencies, and public safety groups.

Supporters believe that Proposition 22 is needed to protect and stabilize funding for local services and transportation projects and to stop state raids-which took or borrowed $5 billion last year alone in local taxes, forcing deep cuts to vital local services. The proposition is opposed by several state public employee unions, including the California Nurses Association, California Teachers Association, and California Professional Firefighters. These groups want to preserve the state’s ability to take or borrow local taxes to pay for state-funded programs.

The Auto Club supports Proposition 22 because it will protect taxes paid by motorists for needed transportation projects to reduce congestion and improve local communities. These funds were approved by California voters multiple times over the years to improve streets, expand transit services, and make highways safer. The state must find a long-term solution for balancing its budget that does not take transportation and local taxes.

For more information on Proposition 22, please see the following links:

To review the “Quick Reference Guide” prepared by the Secretary of State, including the full text of Proposition 22, click here - http://voterguide.sos.ca.gov/propositions/22/

For a summary and analysis of Proposition 22 from the Secretary of State’s Official Voter Information Guide, click here - http://www.voterguide.sos.ca.gov/pdf/english/22-title-summ-analysis.pdf

To review the pro and con arguments and rebuttals from the Secretary of State’s Official Voter Information Guide, click here - http://www.voterguide.sos.ca.gov/pdf/english/22-arg-rebuttals.pdf

For more information from the Yes on 22 campaign, click here - http://www.savelocalservices.com/

For more information from the No on 22 campaign, click here - http://www.votenoprop22.com