Santa Cruz County residents will see 10 State Propositions and 17 Local Measures on their ballots on Nov. 5. City on a Hill Press has compiled 15 Propositions and Measures particularly relevant to students so you can make informed decisions this election season.

Local Measures

Measure Z: Soda Tax

Measure Z has been particularly contentious in Santa Cruz County, with companies like Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Keurig Dr. Pepper Company, and Redbull spending a combined total of at least $850,000 on “Vote No” campaigns. The Measure would introduce a two cents per ounce tax on “sugar-sweetened beverages” like soda, energy drinks, and kombucha. In practice, this means that a standard 15.5oz can of Guayaki Yerba Mate, for example, will cost an extra 30 cents. The revenue from this tax will be placed into a general fund for use by the City of Santa Cruz, which could go to City services such as maintaining parks, expanding community programs, and fighting diabetes, heart disease, and childhood obesity. Money placed in a general fund is not obligated to be spent on any one project, however, so there is no guarantee that the revenue will be used for the outlined projects. According to a UC Davis study, taxes on sugary beverages and junk food are generally ineffective in the state of California, usually disproportionately affecting disadvantaged communities. Those in favor of Measure Z argue that “Big Soda” has long taken advantage of low-income communities and raising the price of sugary drinks by even just a couple of cents will work to disincentivize their purchase. 

Measure R: Fire District Bond

Measure R would permit the Central Fire District of Santa Cruz County to take out $221 million in debt in the form of bonds to be paid back through a property tax. The money would be used to update aging lifesaving equipment and stations, decrease 911 response times, and aid with wildfire prevention. Activists have raised concerns with Measure R, as Santa Cruz Fire has previously proposed funding a joint training center with the Santa Cruz Police Department. Cost estimates for this facility can be found in the Fire District’s budget for 2023-2027. Money from Measure R could go towards funding this project. 

Measure Q : Water and Wildlife Protection 

This measure would dedicate almost $7.3 million annually toward wildfire risk protection, as well as efforts to ensure water quality, clean beaches and protection for wildlife habitats. Measure Q permits Santa Cruz County to impose a special parcel tax of $87 to be paid by property owners. While Measure Q is sponsored by a number of local elected officials and community members within Santa Cruz County, representatives from the Fire Chiefs Association have argued against Measure Q, as there is no direct mention of funds being put towards local fire departments. 

Measures D, L, M, N, O, P, HH: School Bonds

These Measures deal with school bonds, each authorizing a school district to take out debt in the form of bonds. Three of these districts would use the money to fund rental apartments for their employees. Measure M serves Pajaro Valley Unified School District, the largest school district in the county, with 35 schools serving over 15,000 students in Watsonville and Aptos. According to a district official, the schools in this district are in need of over $1.25 billion in maintenance, including the replacement of 50-year-old portable classrooms. The $315 million bond offered by Measure M would help to relieve some of this pressure.

State Propositions

Proposition 2: Grants for School Repairs

Proposition 2 enables the State of California to borrow $10 billion in the form of state bonds for construction, upgrades, and general repairs for K-12 public schools and community colleges. $1.5 billion would be used for community colleges, and the remaining $8.5 billion would go to the K-12 schools. This bond would produce safer facilities for students, and expand eligibility for lower-income school communities. For some lower-income school districts, the state would pay a higher share of project costs to support their greater need.

Proposition 3: Protect Same-Sex Marriage

Proposition 3 would amend the California constitution to legally protect same-sex marriage in the state. A “yes” vote on this proposition would purely update language to match current federal law, and there would be no change in who can legally marry. Updating legal language at the state level helps to safeguard vital rights in the face of volatile, quickly-changing federal law.

Proposition 4: Climate Bond

Proposition 4 would authorize the State of California to take on $10 billion in debt in the form of bonds to be used on environmental and climate projects, with priority being given to disadvantaged and at-risk communities. Most notably, $3.8 billion will be used to improve the quality of drinking water and increase “water resilience,” $1.95 billion for wildfire prevention and extreme heat mitigation, and $1.2 billion for protection of coastal lands, bays, and oceans.  Proposition 4 could be particularly beneficial to Santa Cruz, as the county has proven vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Money from Proposition 4 could help mitigate future floods and reduce fire risk inland. 

Proposition 6: End Involuntary Servitude in Prisons

Proposition 6 would amend the California Constitution to prohibit prisons from using “involuntary servitude” as a punishment for incarcerated people. Currently, about 40,000 incarcerated people are forced into modern slave labor in California, with many of them making $1 or less per hour while performing tasks such as construction, cooking, and cleaning. As the law dictates now, refusal to work or participate in other forced activities can result in punishment. Proposition 6 would make this practice illegal. 

Proposition 32: Minimum Wage

Proposition 32 aims to increase minimum wage from the current $16 an hour to $17 an hour for the remainder of 2024, followed by a bump to $18 an hour in 2025 for employers with more than 26 employees. While there are current annual income adjustments based on inflation status each year, those adjustments would cease until 2027 if Proposition 32 passes. However, employers with 25 employees or less will be required to pay $17 an hour starting January 2025, with a bump to $18 an hour in January 2026. Would increase wages by $4160 each year, or 12%.

Proposition 33: Rent Control

Proposition 33 would prevent the state from passing laws that locally limit rent control and would repeal the Costa Hawkins Rental Housing Act of 1995, which generally prevents cities and counties from enacting rent control on single-family housing, apartments built after 1995, and condominiums. Santa Cruz currently has no local rent control ordinances, meaning that Proposition 33 would have little immediate effect on the City. However, this Proposition would open the door to more expansive rent control ordinances in the future.