Proposition 1A. State Budget. Changes California Budget Process. Limits State Spending. Increases "Rainy Day" Budget Stabilization Fund -- State of California (Legislative Constitutional Amendment - Majority Approval Required)
Fail: 1,665,030 / 34.6% Yes votes ...... 3,145,011 / 65.4% No votes

Changes the budget process. Could limit future deficits and spending by increasing the size of the state "rainy day" fund and requiring above-average revenues to be deposited into it, for use during economic downturns and other purposes.

Proposition 1B. Education Funding. Payment Plan -- State of California (Legislative Constitutional Amendment - Majority Approval Required)
Fail: 1,830,515 / 38.1% Yes votes ...... 2,969,011 / 61.9% No votes

Requires supplemental payments to local school districts and community colleges to address recent budget cuts.

Proposition 1C. Lottery Modernization Act -- State of California (Legislative Constitutional Amendment and Statute - Majority Approval Required)
Fail: 1,705,702 / 35.7% Yes votes ...... 3,077,940 / 64.3% No votes

Allows the state lottery to be modernized to improve its performance with increased payouts, improved marketing, and effective management. Requires the state to maintain ownership of the lottery and authorizes additional accountability measures. Protects funding levels for schools currently provided by lottery revenues. Increased lottery revenues will be used to address current budget deficit and reduce the need for additional tax increases and cuts to state programs.

Proposition 1D. Protects Children's Services Funding. Helps Balance State Budget -- State of California (Legislative Initiative Amendment - Majority Approval Required)
Fail: 1,630,144 / 34.1% Yes votes ...... 3,150,427 / 65.9% No votes

Temporarily provides greater flexibility in funding to preserve health and human services for young children while helping balance the state budget in a difficult economy.

Proposition 1E. Mental Health Services Funding. Temporary Reallocation. Helps Balance State Budget -- State of California (Legislative Initiative Amendment - Majority Approval Required)
Fail: 1,595,002 / 33.5% Yes votes ...... 3,161,825 / 66.5% No votes

Helps balance state budget by amending the Mental Health Services Act (Proposition 63 of 2004) to transfer funds, for two years, to pay for mental health services provided through the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment Program for children and young adults. Fiscal Impact: State General Fund savings of about $230 million annually for two years (2009+10 and 2010+11). Corresponding reduction in funding available for Mental Health Services Act programs.

Proposition 1F. Elected Officials' Salaries. Prevents Pay Increases During Budget Deficit Years -- State of California (Legislative Constitutional Amendment - Majority Approval Required)
Pass: 3,557,557 / 74.2% Yes votes ...... 1,235,221 / 25.8% No votes

Encourages balanced state budgets by preventing elected Members of the Legislature and statewide constitutional officers, including the Governor, from receiving pay raises in years when the state is running a deficit. Directs the Director of Finance to determine whether a given year is a deficit year. Prevents the Citizens Compensation Commission from increasing elected officials' salaries in years when the state Special Fund for Economic Uncertainties is in the negative by an amount equal to or greater than one percent of the General Fund. Fiscal Impact: Minor state savings related to elected state officials' salaries in some cases when the state is expected to end the year with a budget deficit.

Go to 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, or 1F.

See Below For Background Information on State Budget Issues and About All May 19th Propositions

Secretary of State

• Voter Information Guide (PDF) - Comprehensive official information on all of the May 19th propositions, including detailed descriptions, analyses, text of proposed laws, and general information on voting.
• Quick Reference Guide to the May 19th Propositions (PDF) - Very brief summaries of the propositions, explanations of what YES and NO votes mean, arguments for and against, and contact information.

• Overview of the State Budget [February 25, 2009] - Included in the Secretary of State's Voter Information Guide. Brief description of recent state budget problems, the February 2009 budget agreement, what happens if propositions are rejected, ongoing budget challenges. Also in PDF print version.
• 2009-10 Budget Analysis Series: The Fiscal Outlook Under the February Budget Package [March 13, 2009] - Much more extensive report evaluating the February budget agreement, then adding updated and more negative economic forecast, and concluding with implications for budget planning.

League of Women Voters

• Easy Voter Guide - Provides easy-to-read background on the California state budget crisis and the February 2009 budget agreement that placed these propositions on the ballot. Summarizes what each proposition would do, and what people for and against say. Available as PDF in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese.
• In Depth - More detail including explanations of the measure, its provisions, fiscal effects, main arguments for and against, as well as a list of supporters and opponents.

• Pass/Fail in May: California Voters Take on the Budget Crisis [April 27, 2009] (9:44 video) - An easy-to-understand overview of how California's budget problems have developed over the past 30 years.

• Web Forum on May 19 Budget Propositions [ongoing] - Informed and insightful opinion and debate from the perspective of both supporters and critics of the propositions.

• Uncharted Waters: Navigating the Social and Economic Context of California's Budget [March 2009] (PDF) - Detailed 70-page report explaining the reasons for the state budget crisis, provisions of the February 2009 agreement, and analyses of the impacts of the agreement.

• Ballot Endorsements [April 20, 2009] - Chart summarizing the positions of a range of organizations on each of the May 19th propositions.

KQED/FM Public Radio

• Whither California? A closer look at the budget crisis - Forum 5/13/09. 52 min. Hosted by Michael Krasny w/ guests Whalen, Cogdill, Hancock, Angelides, Woo
• See also Forum and California Report programs on each proposition page.

• News coverage of the May 19 Propositions - Note: This link to an external resource is offered strictly as a convenience for users interested in coverage by outside news organizations. The content is provided by organizations unaffiliated with Smart Voter and its partners, and no endorsement of any views expressed or guarantee of its accuracy is intended or implied.