California Online Voter Guide

11th Edition, November 2004 General Election

Proposition 63 Mental Health Services Expansion and Funding. Tax on Incomes over $1 Million. Initiative Statute. Passed

Official Summary

Provides funds to counties to expand services and develop innovative programs and integrated service plans for mentally ill children, adults and seniors. Requires state to develop mental health service programs including prevention, early intervention, education and training programs. Creates new commission to approve certain county programs and expenditures. Imposes additional 1% tax on taxable income over $1 million to provide dedicated funding for expansion of mental health services and programs. Current funding for mental health programs may not be reduced because of funding from new tax.

Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: Additional revenues of approximately $250 million in 2004-05, $680 million in 2005-06, $700 million in 2006-07, and increasing amounts annually thereafter, with comparable increases in expenditures by the state and counties for the expansion of mental health programs. Unknown savings to the state and local agencies potentially amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars annually on a statewide basis from reduced costs for state prison and county jail operations, medical care, homeless shelters, and social services programs that would partly offset the additional cost of this measure. Full Text of Proposition (PDF)

Campaign Web Sites and Contact Information

Yes on Proposition 63
Rusty Selix
Campaign For Mental Health
1127 11th Street, #925, Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 557-1166 or info@yeson63.org
Fax: (916) 447-2350
No on Proposition 63
Citizens for a Healthy California
400 Capitol Mall, Suite 1560, Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 491-1726

Who Signed the Ballot Arguments

Yes on Proposition 63:

Deborah Burger, President, California Nurses Association
Chief Cam Sanchez, President, California Police Chiefs Association
Barbara Kerr, President, California Teachers Association
Carla Nino, President, California State PTA
Areta Crowell, President, Mental Health Association in California
Dr. Dana Ware, President, California Academy of Family Physicians

No on Proposition 63:

The Honorable Tim Leslie, Assemblyman, California State Legislature
David Yow, Member, Citizens for a Healthy California
Dr. William Allen, Professor, UCLA Department of Economics
The Honorable Ray Haynes, Assemblyman, California State Legislature
Lew Uhler, President, National Tax Limitation Committee

Follow the Money

Supporters of Proposition 63 have raised approximately $4 million as of October 16, 2004. Major contributors as of October 31st include the California Council of Community Mental Health Agencies; the California Healthcare Committee on Issues, Sponsored by the California Healthcare Association; the California State Council of Service Employees Issues Committee; the California Teachers Association Issues PAC; and the Mental Health Association in Los Angeles County.

Opponents of Proposition 63 have raised approximately $17,000 as of October 16, 2004. Contributors as of October 31st include William F. Cronk, III, Retired, of Lafayette, CA; Robert Eichenberg, President of Ellison Ed. Eq., of Newport Beach; and Snider Executive Office.

Detailed information about all contributors for and against Prop 63 is available through Cal-Access, the Secretary of State's campaign finance website.

For More Information, CVF Recommends...

The California Secretary of State publishes the Official Voter Information Guide with both a Quick Summary and Detailed Information about Proposition 63.

Other good nonpartisan resources include the League of Women Voters' Pro/Con Analysis and In-Depth Analysis of Proposition 63, the California Budget Project's Analysis, the California Journal, the McGeorge School of Law California Initiative Review and the Easy Voter Guide.

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