Court won’t restrain Measure D tax

 

A Santa Barbara courtroom is the latest battleground in the war brewing between a local group that opposes the continuation of a half-cent county tax due for expiration in 2010.

The tax, measure D, passed by voters in 1989 and enacted in 1990 for a period of 20 years, provides funds for transportation purposes. 

Superior Court Judge Thomas Anderle denied a restraining order sought by an attorney representing Friends of Santa Barbara Committee Against Measure A against the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments, the local agency that administers the millions of dollars collected under Measure D. Judge Anderle did, however, schedule hearings on the group’s other motions for April 29 at 9:00 a.m.

 

SBCAG is a governmental board made up of the five elected members of the County Board of Supervisors and representatives of each of the eight cities in the county.

The SBCAG website notes that the board “authorized staff to hire a research firm to conduct a poll of likely voters to learn about their opinions on the renewal plan.”

SBCAG subsequently hired the firm of Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin & Associates which conducted a survey of about 600 county voters who were likely to vote in the November 2008 presidential election. The firm’s polling indicated that up to 75% of voters would likely support the continuation of the half-cent tax.

The grassroots organization advocates allowing the tax to expire, as it does not address global warming issues in an aggressive way. The attorney, Eugene Wilson, alleged that use of funds for a polling conducted by SBCAG violated the law by advocating a position on a ballot measure that will be before the voters.   

 

Program estimates of up to $34 million are allocated for fiscal year 2008-09 with a 3 precent increase for the last year. It is estimated that Measure D will have generated up to $500 million during it’s 20 year life, all tagged for local transportation infrastructure improvements and maintenance.

The renewal, Measure A, is scheduled to appear on the November 2008 ballot.