Prop 5: Affordable Housing & Infrastructure

IT’S ABOUT POWER.

Proposition 5 seeks to shift the voting threshold to vote for local government bonds from a 2/3 majority to 55%.
Confused about what that means?
Read below for the context of this ballot and what it means for affordable housing.

The Challenge of Local Funding

For decades, California has struggled to meet the housing needs of its residents, particularly those with low and moderate incomes.

One significant barrier has been the difficulty in raising local funds for affordable housing and infrastructure projects. Since the 1970s, California state constitution has required a two-thirds majority vote to pass most local bonds for essential services, including housing

This supermajority requirement leads to the dismissal of bonds that are voted for by the majority, but are nevertheless unable to be passed. This prevents critical investments in our communities, even if communities voice their needs for funding.

How Prop 5 Seeks to Make a Difference

Proposition 5 offers a solution by lowering the voter approval threshold for local bonds and property taxes used to fund affordable housing and infrastructure projects from 66.666% to 55%

. This change would apply to a wide range of vital services, including:

Affordable housing
Fire and flood protection
Libraries
Public transit

By making it easier to secure funding, Prop 5 would empower local communities to address their specific needs and priorities without the need of a supermajority.

What critics say

Critics worry about the potential misuse of funds, but Prop 5 includes measures to ensure accountability:

Citizen oversight committees would be required to monitor bond expenditures
Annual independent financial and performance audits would be mandatory

These safeguards would give voters confidence that their tax dollars are being spent as promised.

Opposing funders, including both the California and National Realtors’ Associations, are concerned that increased voting power for bond measures may lead to increased property taxes.

However, proponents argue that the current system is undemocratic due to its need for a supermajority, and that funds are desperately needed to solve California’s severe housing shortage.

Learning from Past Successes

The concept behind Prop 5 isn't new. In 2000, California voters approved Proposition 39, which lowered the threshold for passing school facility bonds to 55%

This change has successfully funded much-needed improvements in school districts across the state. We believe applying the same principle to affordable housing and infrastructure can yield similar positive results.

The Impact on Our Communities

As a housing non-profit, we've seen firsthand the devastating effects of California's housing shortage. Prop 5 could be a game-changer for organizations like ours:

It would make it easier to secure local funding for affordable housing projects
More local funds could help leverage additional state and federal resources
Communities would have greater control over addressing their specific housing needs

A Step Towards Democratic Fairness

Currently, a minority of voters can block important measures, even when a clear majority supports them. For example, in 2022, a $650 million bond measure in Berkeley received 59% of the vote but still failed to pass.

Prop 5 would ensure that the will of the majority prevails while still maintaining a high standard for approval.

The Choice is Yours

As advocates for affordable housing, we at the Bill Sorro Housing Program believe that Prop 5 is a critical step towards addressing California's housing crisis. By empowering local communities to invest in their priorities and removing undemocratic barriers to funding, we can work towards a future where all Californians have access to safe, affordable housing.

We urge voters to learn more about Proposition 5, and to read below for accessible voting resources.

Voting resources:

California Secretary of State: For voter registration services and information in multiple languages.
Vote411.org: A nonpartisan resource that provides personalized voting information based on your address, including registration status and polling locations.
San Francisco Department of Elections: Learn how to register, update voter registration, and details about polling places.
Accessible Vote-by-Mail (AVBM): Provides options for voters needing accessibility assistance.