This story was reported for San Diego News Network on May 19, 2009.
The anticipated special election of May 2009 has arrived.
On Tuesday, California voters will determine whether six propositions should be passed to deter $6 billion of the state deficit.
“They’re very important, they’re a very important part of the budget puzzle,” Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said on Monday.
In February, after months of budget meetings, two- thirds of the legislature passed a proposed budget that they hoped would solve the state deficit, which is now $42 billion. The pieces of the puzzle include $60 billion in budget cuts, $12 billion in revenue increases and $6 billion in proposed initiatives for the voters to decide.
However, with recent polls results and much criticism, particularly from conservatives, five of the six propositions are expected to fail – with Proposition 1F the only one expected to pass.
After failing propositions were predicted, Schwarzenegger and the State’s Department of Finance Director Mike Genest released what is now known as “Plan B.” Plan B would release 40,000 state inmates, take cuts to public education and ask legislators to suspend Proposition 1A of 2004 that would require local governments to offer 8 percent of their property tax revenues.
Chula Vista, which is facing its own deficit of $20 million, adopted a resolution that would decline the state’s mandate, said Mayor Cheryl Cox.
San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders also opposed “Plan B,” stating last week, that the state’s back-up plan was not “rational.”
But, the Governor is adamant on voters needing to pass the propositions.
“We have the special election [because] there are initiatives on the ballot that will … No. 1 gets us an additional $6 billion because that’s part of fixing the problem,” he said after he defined supporting Republicans and Democrats, together, as a “miracle.”
An additional $8 billion in federal funds will be offered to the state. And, Assemblymember Lori Saldaña (D-San Diego) asked Vice President Joe Biden for additional backing during his visit last Thursday. She said additional backing was needed from the federal government because California is the largest state while it also plays a major role in the world economy.
“This is a reflection of a national meltdown,” Saldaña told SDNN last week. “California represents 12 percent of the U.S. population, so when the economy as a whole slows down, we slow down before the rest of the country.”
State Legislators are relying heavily on voters Tuesday, although only 25 to 30 percent of voters in San Diego County are expected to vote, said San Diego County Registrar of Voters spokesperson Deborah Seiler.
The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Residents can also cast their ballot at the Registrar of Voters office in Kearny Mesa at 5201 Ruffin Road.
Hoa Quach is the political editor for the San Diego News Network.