California Prop 4. Investing in Nature

What is Prop. 4?

Proposition 4 is a ballot measure that will appear on California’s November 5 ballot. The full title of the proposition is Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, and Protecting Communities and Natural Lands From Climate Risks.

If passed, this measure authorizes the state to sell bonds to provide funding for critical investments in clean water, funding to protect against wildfire, sea level rise, flooding and extreme heat, drought, and investments in our farms, natural lands, inland waters, coastal waters, and parks for the benefit of all Californians.

Proposition 4 is the single largest investment in protecting the environment and responding to the challenges of climate change in the history of California. The measure needs a majority to pass on November 5th.

With state budget cuts and another state budget deficit predicted for 2025, we need stable, consistent funding for the next five years to meet our 30×30 and restoration goals by 2030. We need to act now to address the climate crisis. According to the California Natural Resources Fourth Climate Change Assessment, climate change could cost California an estimated $113 billion annually by 2050 if we do not take action now.

What is a bond?

Bonds allow the state to borrow money to finance projects and programs. The state sells bonds to investors to receive funding for projects and then repays investors, with interest, over a period of time. According to the Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO), one main reason for using bonds is that infrastructure typically provides services over many years and the large costs of these projects can be difficult to pay for all at once.

How do bonds work?

Similar to how a home mortgage works, the state makes annual payments after selling bonds over the following few decades until the bonds are paid off. The state pays more for a project funded by bonds than if the state does not borrow money for the project because of the interest costs.

What will Prop. 4 fund?

Proposition 4 provides unprecedented state funding for safe drinking water, drought, flood, and water resilience, wildfire and forest resilience, coastal resilience, extreme heat mitigation, biodiversity and nature-based climate solutions, climate-smart, sustainable, and resilient farms, ranches, and working lands, park creation and outdoor access, and clean air programs.

For Sonoma Land Trust, Prop. 4 will provide funding to some of our key state partners and funders, such as the State Coastal Conservancy and the Wildlife Conservation Board.

Funding provided by Prop. 4 will help advance several of our Strategic Focal Areas, such as Adapting to Rising Waters, Protecting Biodiversity, Living with Wildfire and Preserving Nature Nearby.

Specifically, there is:

$1.2 billion for Coastal Resilience, including $765 million for the State Coastal Conservancy for climate resilience, sea level rise and coastal protection. The Bay Area gets a specific allocation of $85 million for SF Bay Restoration Authority/Bay Conservation Projects. The SF Bay Restoration Authority has funded many of our Baylands acquisition and restoration projects, such as the acquisitions of Camp 4 and Kiser Ranch.
In a historic first, the climate bond sets aside $450 million for Extreme Heat; this is the first time a bond has included investments to address the massive Extreme Heat threat facing our state.
$1.2 billion for biodiversity – all of which will go towards meeting our 30×30, public access, and climate resilience goals — there is $870 million for wildlife conservation, habitat connectivity, and ecosystem restoration for the benefit of the entire state. Funding from the Wildlife Conservation Board supported the acquisition of McCormick Ranch and the Sonoma Mountain Vernal Pools properties.
$700 million for Parks, which includes $500 million in parks for neighborhoods with less access to parks, parks improvements, and public access and $175 million for deferred maintenance for state parks. Parks funding was critical to advancing the Santa Rosa Southeast Greenway project and acquisition of Cooper Creek.

Prop. 4 prioritizes funding for underserved communities, requiring 40% of the funding go to vulnerable and disadvantaged communities.

What can I do to help pass Prop. 4?

If you have not yet registered to vote, register now by visiting registertovote.ca.gov/. In California, the deadline to register to vote for any election is 15 days before Election Day, so please register early!

Vote yes on Prop. 4 and encourage your community, friends, and family to do the same.

Encourage organizations, associations, and elected officials to endorse Prop. 4 by visiting the website https://cayeson4.com/ and filling out the endorsement form.

We appreciate your support in helping to pass this important measure. We cannot address the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change without additional funding. We must act now to protect our state’s incredible biodiversity and our communities from the impacts of climate change. Thank you!

Paid for by Sonoma Land Trust