Here's how much the special election for California's partisan redistricting measure will cost

"The cost of putting California's partisan redistricting ballot measure before voters this fall is expected to run the state $282.6 million, eclipsing the final bill of the last statewide special election. As Gov. Gavin Newsom and his allies signed off on Proposition 50 last month a plan to counteract an effort by Texas Republicans to gerrymander the state's congressional maps and pick up GOP seats in the U.S. House the governor vowed to reimburse counties for the hefty costs of an unexpected election."

"Only 17 of the 58 counties in California had previously made plans to hold local special elections on Nov. 4, and with less than three months until Election Day, counties implored state leaders to bear the costs. Counties don't have a dime to spare as we work to keep local services afloat in the face of federal and state budget cuts, Luis Alejo, a Monterey County supervisor and the second vice president of the California State Association of Counties, said following lawmakers' decision to fund the special election. A Sept. 5 letter from the Department of Finance obtained by this news organization offers the first glimpse into just how much Prop. 50 is expected to cost."

"In the letter, Erika Li, the chief deputy director of the agency, asks Controller Malia Cohen to allocate $251.3 million across the 58 counties. The costs for each county vary from just $24,000 for Alpine County to up to $67 million for Los Angeles County. In the Bay Area, the state will send $11.4 million to Alameda County, $17.2 million to Santa Clara County, $4.1 million to San Mateo County, $6.5 million to Contra Costa County and $4.5 million to San Francisco. H.D. Palmer, a spokesperson for the Department of Finance, said the figures are based on each county's estimates. In the event that a county or counties incur additional costs above the estimates they've already reported, we will work with them once any additional costs are determined, Palmer said in an email."

California faces an estimated $282.6 million expense to place a partisan redistricting ballot measure before voters this fall, exceeding the final bill of the previous statewide special election. Governor Gavin Newsom approved Proposition 50 to counteract Texas Republicans' redistricting and pledged to reimburse counties for election costs. Only 17 of 58 counties had planned local special elections for Nov. 4, prompting county leaders to request state funding. A Sept. 5 Department of Finance letter asks Controller Malia Cohen to allocate $251.3 million to counties. Allocations range from $24,000 for Alpine County to about $67 million for Los Angeles, with specific Bay Area amounts listed. The Department of Finance said figures reflect county estimates and that it will work with counties on any additional costs.

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