At a glance: Proposition 1E

What would it do?

•Temporarily redirect some Proposition 63 funding for services to the mentally ill to the general fund. Proposition 63, passed by voters in 2004, put a personal income tax surcharge of 1 percent on taxable income over $1 million to fund new and expanded mental health programs.

What is the objective?

•To help patch the budget deficit. The Proposition 63 account is running a surplus, and the governor and legislative leaders want to grab the money off the table for the general fund.

What does it cost taxpayers? Nothing.

What's the effect on the general fund? On the deficit?

• 1E would save the general fund about $230 million a year for two years, reducing the deficit by the same amount.

Who's for it? Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, legislative leaders, California Chamber of Commerce, California Teachers Association.

Who's against it? Agencies that deliver mental health programs under Proposition 63, Mental Health Association in California, California Republican Party.

Interesting tidbit: State Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg and Rusty Selix, executive director of the Mental Health Association in California, co-authored Proposition 63. Steinberg favors Proposition 1E and Selix opposes it.