California lawmakers propose $10 billion bond for climate and schools

California lawmakers unveiled plans on Sunday to introduce two bond measures on the November ballot, seeking voter approval to borrow $10 billion for climate programs and an additional $10 billion to address public school construction and repairs. The announcement came shortly after Governor Gavin Newsom signed the state’s budget, which included significant spending cuts to address a $46.8 billion deficit.

Senate President Pro Tempore Mike McGuire emphasized the importance of these bond measures, stating that they are crucial for the state’s future by investing in children, their schools, and ensuring access to clean water and wildfire safety. The climate initiative aims to assist communities in recovering from natural disasters such as wildfires, floods, and droughts.

The proposed clean water and wildfire bond would allocate $10 billion for strategic investments in safe drinking water and funding for various climate resilience efforts, including wildfire prevention, sea-level rise mitigation, and clean air initiatives. According to McGuire’s office, this would mark the largest public funding investment for climate resilience in California’s history.

The second bond measure seeks to provide $10 billion for school modernization and repairs, with $8.5 billion designated for K-12 schools and $1.5 billion for California community colleges. The funding would support new construction, campus improvements, career technical education, and energy efficiency grants to ensure schools are equipped for the 21st century.

Senator Josh Newman, chair of the Senate Education Committee, highlighted the importance of the school bond in ensuring that districts have essential facilities, technical education resources, and broadband internet access. The measures, if approved by voters, would enable legislators to borrow funds outside of the budget, following a similar successful plan in March to address housing and mental health needs.