Losing Odds for Budget-Balance Props

California voters appear to be opposed to most of the May 19 special election ballot measures state leaders are relying on to keep the budget from sliding further out of balance, according to a public opinion survey released Wednesday.

“With just three weeks to Election Day, a new Field Poll finds pluralities of likely voters lining up on the no side on five of six of the ballot measures,” the news release announcing the survey said.

The measure faring the worst is Proposition 1C, which would have the most immediate fiscal impact because California’s fiscal 2010 budget is built on $5 billion of lottery bonds that cannot be issued if the measure fails. Likely voters opposed it 59% to 32%, the poll found.

Also trailing is Proposition 1A, opposed by 49% to 40%. That measure would implement a spending limit and expand the state’s budget reserve fund.

The only measure supported by a majority was Proposition 1F, which would bar legislative and statewide constitutional officers from receiving pay raises when the state is running a budget deficit. That measure, which would have no impact on the budget, is supported 71% to 24%, the Field Poll found.

Three other propositions included on the ballot as part of the package of measures that emerged from February budget negotiations are also trailing.

Democrats, meeting last weekend at a state convention in Sacramento, snubbed the legislative leaders who negotiated the measures by refusing to endorse three of them, including the one on budget reform. They did endorse the lottery bond measure.

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