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The first returns (absentee, I would assume) show Measure D failing by a 26.2% to 73.8% count. All the Prop. 170 172 reallocation measures are failing by impressive totals.

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What are Measure D and Prop 170?

Back in 1993 California voters passed Prop 172 (I wrote 170 on mistake). It instituted a half-cent sales tax earmarked for law enforcement. That money is distributed to the individual counties, which then spend the money as they see fit. In OC the money is currently split between the DA and Sheriff's Department.

In steps the OC Fire Department and Union. OC Fire gets its funding through property taxes, which, as you can imagine, is a pretty good business to be in at the moment (average OC home price: $617,000). In fact, the Fire Department just recently built an opulent new headquarters in Santa Ana with their newfound wealth.

But that doesn't stop them from coveting the Sheriffs' Prop. 172 money. So they put Measure D on the ballot, (which would change the formula by which the funds are distributed to include the fire department) and threw a shit-ton of union money behind it. The basic goal is to steal money from law enforcement to keep their ridiculous pension system afloat.

In response, the OC Supervisors (who were not pleased with the move) put B, C, and E on the ballot (which all tweak the formula in different ways), in the hopes that they would split the 'yes' vote and none would pass. It appears as though they have succeeded.

Thank you much.