Deadline Approaches for Delta Bond

Doug Sovern
KCBS San Francisco
08/13/2008

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KCBS)  -- A $9 billion bond to address California's water crisis could go down the drain if lawmakers don't agree to put it on the November ballot by the end of this week. But that would be just fine with some environmental groups.

Governor Schwarzenegger and Senator Dianne Feinstein are pushing the water bond, to fix the Delta, and build more dams and reservoirs. San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed says it's imperative that voters approve this money this November.

"We cannot let the water system fall further into disrepair. We're in a crisis, and we need to move and act now," said Reed.

However, Jennifer Clary with Clean Water Action says the state still hasn't spent hundreds of millions from the last water bond, and she wants this bond measure withdrawn.

"For every bond dollar you have to take two dollars out of the general fund. If we can't balance the general fund now, then what are we digging ourselves into?" said Clary.

But Mayor Reed says there is not enough money in the pipeline now to guarantee California's future water supply.

"We've got to fix the Delta, and this bond measure will allow us to begin that process," said Reed.

KCBS' Doug Sovern reports