Solvang council hears plan to pass Measure A

 

SOLVANG — Measure D, a funding measure passed by county voters in 1989, is set to expire next year at the end of its 20-year life.

The tax, which adds a half point to the 7 ¼ percent state sales tax rate, provides about $35 million per year for maintenance of county roads and transportation infrastructure.

The Solvang City Council at its April 28 meeting heard a report from Greg Hart on efforts by the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments to ensure passage of the replacement measure, Measure A, that will appear on the ballot in November.

Hart, representing the association, explained that “we weren’t successful in our last effort to renew the measure two years ago.”

 

At that time, supporters of the tax attempted to add an additional quarter point, bringing the county sales tax rate up to 8 percent from the current 7.75 percent.  Hart noted that SBCAG wanted to “correct the issues that prevented the last renewal” and that now the voters need to pass the new measure by a two-thirds “super majority” vote.

The measure is projected to raise more than $1 billion in revenue for the county over 30 years. Solvang has received more than $350,000 per year for the past 18 years, according to Mayor Edwin Skytt.

Of highest priority in the county is the widening of Highway 101 between Montecito and Carpinteria. Hart said that about $150 million, or one third of the amount needed for the widening project, will be raised by the renewal of the measure. These funds will enable the completion of this project, which has been under discussion for more than two decades. Federal and state gas taxes of $285 million will be leveraged in order to widen the highway from four to six lanes from the City of Carpinteria to the City of Santa Barbara to improve safety, reduce traffic congestion and match the 6 lane roadways south of Carpinteria and north of Santa Barbara.

 

Over the 30-year life of the new measure, Solvang is expected to receive more than $11 million for local street and transportation improvements, with a requirement that 15% of the funds be spent on alternative transportation projects by the fifth year of the project.

Council members Jim Richardson, Eugene Boyle Jr., and Mayor Edwin Skytt all expressed strong approval for continuation of the funding measure. Councilman Kenneth Palmer was the only member of the board to express reservations.

Noting that Highway 101 is a federal roadway, Palmer said, “I will not campaign against this although I don’t believe we need a local tax to improve a federal roadway…it should be done by federal funds.”