SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California lawmakers have agreed to put two bond measures on the ballot in November, one that would ask voter approval to borrow $10 billion for climate programs and another that would allocate $10 billion to build or repair public schools. The climate initiative would help communities recover from wildfires, floods, drought and other natural catastrophes.
The clean water and wildfire bond would cover $10 billion in strategic investments for safe drinking water, as well as funding for “wildfire and forest resilience, sea-level rise, extreme heat mitigation, clean air, and protecting biodiversity,” according to a statement from McGuire’s office.As AI gains a workplace foothold, states are trying to make sure workers don’t get left behindwould provide $10 billion in borrowed money to modernize and repair schools. K-12 schools would get $8.
“Districts will be able to ensure schools have essential facilities like kitchens and libraries, equip students with the skills for high-demand technical careers, and provide greater access to broadband internet,” said Sen. Josh Newman, a Democrat who chairs the Senate Education Committee. “This bond ensures that our schools are safe, modern, and well-prepared for the 21st-century.”
Lawmakers passed the state budget last Wednesday after Newsom and legislative leaders both made concessions. They were forced for the second year in a row to pare back or delay some progressive policies that were previously paid for with record-breaking surpluses during the COVID-19 pandemic. The bond measures, if approved by voters, would allow legislators to borrow money not allocated by the budget. In March,to borrow $6.38 billion to build 4,350 housing units for homeless residents and add 6,800 mental health and addiction treatment beds.