November 2, 2010 Ballot Prop. 21

Proposition 21: Increase vehicle license fees to fund state parks


Official Results

Available once the California Secretary of State has certified the election. This can take up to 3 weeks or more.

Yes votes: 4,190,643 (42.7%)
No votes: 5,615,595 (57.3%)

An $18 annual surcharge would be added to the amount paid when a person registers a motor vehicle. The surcharge revenues would be deposited in a trust fund to be used solely for operating, maintaining, and repairing state parks, and protecting wildlife and natural resources. Vehicles subject to the surcharge would have free admission and parking at all state parks.

Pro/Con Statements

ProCon
Supporters say that Prop. 21 addresses the problem of deferred maintenance and repair at California’s state parks and beaches caused by chronic underfunding. Prop. 21 would establish a trust fund to keep parks open, maintained, and safe. The trust fund would be subject to an independent audit by the State Auditor and a citizens' oversight committee would be created to ensure funds are spent appropriately.
Opponents say that Prop. 21 is a cynical plan to bring back the car tax. They claim that politicians in Sacramento are already scheming to divert existing park funds to other wasteful programs so overall park funding doesn’t increase but car taxes do.
SupportersOpponents