Californians asked to spend more during unprecedented spree of water spending

Mercury News ^ | 11/24/09 | Mike Taugher -CoCoTimes

[NormsRevenge]

Supporters of a proposed $11 billion water bond say the money is urgently needed to fix California's water supply problems, yet billions of dollars in previous bond money still hasn't been spent, according to the California treasurer.

About half of the $20 billion in water and levee improvement bonds passed since 2000 was unspent as of July, according to the State Treasurer's Office most recent report on debt affordability. It is unclear how much of that money is actually available for new efforts, since lawmakers have appropriated billions for specific projects, according to Jason Dickerson, debt service analyst for the Legislative Analyst's Office.

Some of those commitments could be changed by lawmakers if they want to redirect funds or by voters if they revise earlier bond measures.

But projects also could already be under way with the expectation that they would be paid later when bonds are sold to investors, Dickerson said.

Despite that spending, bond supporters say more is needed and they will spend the next year making the case for the biggest water bond ever proposed.

"It really is a need for investment in the tens of billions of dollars in the next few decades," said Mark Cowin, deputy director of the Department of Water Resources.

"In light of population growth and climate change, we knew we've got to invest even more."

At $11.1 billion, the measure is twice as big as the last record-breaking water bond -- Proposition 84, the $5.4 billion bond initiative that passed in 2006, shattering the record set four years earlier with the $3.4 billion Proposition 50.

[NormsRevenge]

About half of the $20 billion in water and levee improvement bonds passed since 2000 was unspent as of July, according to the State Treasurer's Office most recent report on debt affordability.

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More more more.. The faces change, the game remains the same.

Spend what ya got and don't beg for more until you do.

[GOPJ]

Hollywood liberals have to keep their pools full and fun! Besides they’re only using one square of toilet paper...

[Seaplaner]

Methinks California's "water supply problem" corresponds directly with our ILLEGAL ALIEN PROBLEM.

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[LouAvul]

I always wondered why kal didn’t avail itself of desalinization technology. Like, Cabo. When I was living in the valley I was told that the technology wasn’t available for huge amounts of water, but why not use the smaller plants for smaller entities, like hotels, malls, homes, etc?

[17th Miss Regt]

Note that the central vally irrigation support system no longer needs maintenance or repairs now. No water will be flowing through it because of the delta smelt. That will save a lot of money for a good cause. (/liberal)

[17th Miss Regt]

Note that the central valley irrigation support system no longer needs maintenance or repairs now. No water will be flowing through it because of the delta smelt. That will save a lot of money for a good cause. (/liberal)

[marsh2]

Lets see.. Could it be that the last prop. 50 boondoggle was mired in such a bureaucratic mess of re-drafted guidelines, redrawn rules mid-process, multiple review levels by multiple agencies that couldn’t agree and last minute cuts in available funds that applicants don’t want to go through that hell again? Could it be that the DWR/SWRCB issued new guidelines for prop 84 and required re-application for all the Integrated Regional Water Management Planning entities? Could it be that the money has not yet been appropriated? Could it be that last time, the state halted projects already underway mid-stream, refused to pay for work already done or needed to complete projects on an emergency basis to re-open streams and irrigation works before season? Could it be that this cased great hardship on unpaid contractors and grant administrators who faced bankruptcy and lawsuit?

Could it be that the newly proposed bond wrests control from local elected officials and puts it in the hands of unelected political operatives and special interests with no accountability to the people? Could it be that there is all sorts of garbage in the bill - such as money for hydro-power dam removal on the Klamath?