Governor and Legislative Leaders Announce $1 Billion Drought Package

Yesterday Governor Brown joined Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de León, Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins, and Republican Leaders Senator Bob Huff and Assemblymember Kristin Olsen to announce legislation to help local communities cope with the ongoing drought.  The $1 billion legislative package will expedite bond funding to make the state more resilient to the disastrous effects of climate change and help ensure that all Californians have access to local water supplies.

Specifically, the package accelerates $128 million in expenditures from the Governor’s budget to provide direct assistance to workers and communities impacted by drought, and to implement the Water Action Plan.  It also includes $272 million in Proposition 1 Water Bond funding for safe drinking water and water recycling, and accelerates $660 million from the Proposition 1e for flood protection in urban and rural areas.

The Legislature is expected to take up the drought package next week.  The 2015 drought package summary can be accessed here.