California voters reject Proposition 5, leaving the vote threshold required to pass local bond measures at two-thirds
California voters have rejected Proposition 5, which would have lowered votes needed to pass city and county bond measures for local infrastructure and housing bonds to 55%.
According to results as of Friday, the measure was failing by a margin of 56.2% against to 43.8% in favor.
Rejection of Prop 5 means that local bond measures will still require a two-thirds majority to pass in cities and counties.
Those in favor of Proposition 5 argued the measure would give local voters and taxpayers the choice and ability to address the housing and infrastructure challenges facing their communities and shift local spending priorities away from state government.
Proponents of the ballot measure said it would make it easier for cities and counties to approve bonds to fund affordable housing developments, safer streets, additional fire stations, or other community-driven projects.
Those who opposed Proposition 5 said the changes to the state's constitution would make it easier to increase bond debt, leading to higher property taxes. The measure would have shifted the financial burden from the state to local communities, which opponents argued would have increased costs for homeowners, renters and consumers.
Critics also argued that the language of the measure would allow for a liberal interpretation of what constitutes an infrastructure project.