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HomeElections CodeDiv. 9Ch. 2Art. 2§ 9142 County Revenue Bond Referendum

§ 9142 County Revenue Bond Referendum

Elections Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 9142 County Revenue Bond Referendum

Key Takeaways

  • •If a county wants to issue revenue bonds as part of a joint powers entity, the rule doesn't start right away—it waits 60 days.
  • •People in the county can vote to stop the rule if they don’t like it. If the county had more than 500,000 votes in the last governor election, they need signatures from 5% of those voters. If fewer than 500,000 votes, they need 10%.
  • •If there’s a vote, the ballot will ask if the county should allow the bonds and explain how the money will be used and paid back.

Example

A big county with 1,000,000 votes in the last governor election wants to issue bonds for a new highway project with another county.

The rule to issue the bonds won’t start for 60 days. If 50,000 people (5% of 1,000,000) sign a petition, there will be a vote. The ballot will ask if the county should allow the bonds and explain how the money will be used for the highway and paid back.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 9142 County Revenue Bond Referendum

(a) Notwithstanding Section 9141, ordinances authorizing the issuance of revenue bonds by a county as part of a joint powers entity pursuant to Section 6547 of the Government Code shall not take effect for 60 days. (b) When the number of votes cast for all candidates for Governor at the last gubernatorial election within the boundaries of the county described in subdivision (a) exceeds 500,000, the ordinance is subject to referendum upon presentation of a petition bearing signatures of at least 5 percent of the entire vote cast within the boundaries of the county for all candidates for Governor at the last gubernatorial election. When the number of votes cast for all candidates for Governor at the last gubernatorial election within the boundaries of the county is less than 500,000, the ordinance is subject to referendum upon presentation of a petition bearing signatures of at least 10 percent of the entire vote cast within the boundaries of the county for all candidates for Governor at the last gubernatorial election. (c) For the purpose of submitting the question to the voters pursuant to subdivision (b), the ballot wording shall approximate the following: “Shall the _____ (county name) _____ , as a member of the _____ (joint powers entity name) _____ , authorize the issuance of revenue bonds by the joint powers entity in the amount of $____ pursuant to ordinance number ____, dated ____, the bonds to be used for the following purposes and to be redeemed in the following manner: ________?” (Enacted by Stats. 1994, Ch. 920, Sec. 2.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

ordinancepetitionelectiongovernorissuancepresentationrepaymentquestion

Related Statutes

  • § 9236 Revenue Bond Referendum Rules
  • § 9341 Local Revenue Bond Referendum
  • § 9144 Ordinance Protest Petition Requirements
  • § 9118 County Initiative Petition Requirements
  • § 9140 County Ordinance Voter Approval

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Elections Code. Section 9142.
View Official Source