Transportation tax measures headed to Nov. ballot
By Tony Bizjak, Sacramento Bee
It’s looking like the November ballot will be a big one for transportation in California.
A dozen counties, including Sacramento and Placer, are planning to put sales tax measures on the ballot, asking voters to chip in billions of dollars to help fix rutted roads and relieve at least some of the state’s growing post-recession congestion.
Counties and cities used to rely almost completely on federal and state funds, mainly through gas pump taxes. But those governments have been suffering their own gridlock, of the political sort, for years as transportation funding sources falter.
In Placer County, transportation officials voted unanimously two weeks ago to pitch an initiative that would raise $1.6 billion over 30 years to help pay for road improvements, again via a half-cent sales tax increase. Advocates are visiting local city councils over the next few weeks, asking for support.