DATE:
September 30, 2025
16
TO:
Board of Supervisors
SUBJECT
Title
CONFIRMING STATE OF CALIFORNIA REIMBURSEMENT FOR ALL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH PROPOSITION 50 (DISTRICTS: ALL)
Body
OVERVIEW
On August 21, 2025, Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law legislation approving the placement of a redistricting measure (Proposition 50) on the ballot for November 4, 2025. The purpose of this special election ballot measure is to use alternate Congressional electoral district maps for elections held from 2026 through 2030. During this period, the maps approved by the California Citizens Redistricting Commission on December 27, 2021, would be replaced with new Congressional electoral districts established through the enactment of Assembly Bill 604.
Although Senate Bill 280, the legislation authorizing this special election, states the Legislature's intent to provide funding to counties to cover the costs of the special redistricting election, the County of San Diego has not received any confirmation that it will be fully reimbursed by the State for the special election costs. According to the California Department of Finance, the cost of this special election is estimated to total $251,306,359. The County of San Diego's share of this cost is expected to total approximately $20.5 million. It remains unclear whether or not the County will be fully reimbursed for its costs if this measure is not approved by California voters, or at all.
In light of the County's budget challenges, it is critical that the State fully reimburse the County for all costs associated with the special redistricting election and ensure that reimbursement decisions are not based on the passage of Proposition 50. To assure voters that this election will be conducted through a free and fair process, no entity should attempt to "put their thumb on the scale" or otherwise steer the outcome of this special election. Full reimbursement from the State, regardless of the outcome of this measure, ...
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