California Proposition 51 (2002)
Encyclopedia
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:
Summary of Legislative Analyst's Estimate of Net State and Local Government Fiscal Impact:
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
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
Initiative
In political science, an initiative is a means by which a petition signed by a certain minimum number of registered voters can force a public vote...
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 railLight railLight rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
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.