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California voters recently approved Proposition 2-the so-called “rainy day fund” for California-with nearly 69% support. Significantly, voters in 57 counties supported this measure, with Trinity County the lone dissenting county, as the map below shows.

California’s voters yesterday sent a very positive signal that they want to invest in our state’s future by saving our precious water and money during surplus times, so they are available during times of need—both droughts and recessions. The passage of the water bond, Proposition 1, with nearly 67% of the voter saying yes, is a major investment in our vital water resources that will help the Sacramento Valley and other parts of the state prepare for future dry years.

For the water bond on the November 4 ballot, Governor Jerry Brown, California Farm Bureau Federation President Paul Wenger and Nature Conservancy California Director Mike Sweeney wrote the ballot argument in favor of Proposition 1.

Passage of Proposition 2 (the Rainy Day Budget Stabilization Fund Act) will have a number of positive effects on California’s financial stability, but it will also be beneficial for county governments as well. In the past, there have been occasions when services provided by the counties should have been paid for or at least reimbursed by the state. But, due to state overspending and the recession, these funds were withheld from the local jurisdictions forcing counties to use their own general tax revenue to cover the costs.