California’s Infrastructure Challenges

On November 3, 2020, Californians will vote on Proposition 15, also known as the California Schools and Local Communities Funding Act of 2020. The proposition would require commercial and industrial properties to be taxed based on their market value rather than on their purchase price. This brief describes California’s infrastructure spending and relates how, despite recent infusions of funds, the state still lacks a stable, predictable, adequate revenue source. This creates problems addressing deferred maintenance backlogs, regional inequities, and challenges preparing for climate change.