Sonoma Co. Officials React To Failure of Measure A

Even if all of the 9,442 votes on Tuesday at Sonoma County’s 319 precincts were in favor of a quarter-cent sales tax hike, Measure A would have failed by a wide margin, according to the tally released by the Registrar of Voters Office early this morning.

The 5-year tax that would have raised $100 million for the county and its nine cities to improve the poor quality of many of the 1,384 miles of roads and for other “general government purposes” needed the approval of a majority of voters. Only 31 percent of the county’s 240,000 voters cast ballots, and nearly 63 percent - 46,758 of them - voted against Measure A.

“We all thought it would be closer. We were surprised,” said Daniel Drummond of the Sonoma County Taxpayers Association, which opposed the measure.

• Previous: Early Results Show Sonoma Co. Voters Rejecting Sales Tax Hike

Sonoma County Supervisor David Rabbitt also said he thought the vote would be close. “A lot had to do with the low turnout and who voted, but trust was the overall issue and people were saying enough is enough,” Rabbitt said.

“Voters felt the whole process was somewhat manipulated the way it was put on the ballot,” Drummond said. “The measure said roads but it also mentioned public safety. The voters were pretty upset with the way it came about. It was unprofessional.”

Opponents of the measure feared the tax revenue would be spent on county employee pensions and benefits, Drummond said.

“Voters were simply burned too many times. A prior board in 2004 gave enhanced pension benefits that have killed budgets ever since. That board was never held accountable. Voters felt somewhat snake bit, and the current board of supervisors is paying for the sins of the past boards,” Drummond said.

The current board of supervisors has agreed past boards did not spend enough money on road improvements. Measure A was initially proposed last year as a 20-year sales tax hike with a companion advisory measure that would specifically direct how the money would be spent. It was to appear on the March 2015 ballot.

The County Administrator’s Office then said it received input suggesting voters were skeptical that the money would actually be spent on roads. When polling indicated voters would not approve a special tax that required two-thirds approval, the measure was changed to a 5-year general tax for roads, public transit, public safety and other general government purposes requiring only majority approval. Measure A was then scheduled for the special election this month. It would have taken effect immediately if it passed.

“A specific tax requiring two-thirds approval would not have passed,” Rabbitt said today. “Sonoma County has a history of not passing measures on the first try. It takes two or three tries,” Rabbitt said.

“It will pass if the money is wisely and prudently spent,” Drummond said.

Sonoma County has always spent general fund revenue on roads, including $40.8 million over the last four fiscal years, Rabbitt said.

“We were going to double that with the tax, but we can’t now. I will continue to place the highest priority on roads,” Rabbitt said.

Board members said Sonoma County has relied on general fund revenue for roads because its share of state gas tax revenue for roads is less than counties with fewer miles of roads, including Santa Clara County with 635 miles of rural and urban roadways in the unincorporated area of the county.

“All property tax increases will go primarily back to roads. Roads are still a priority,” Rabbitt said.

Board of Supervisors Chair Susan Gorin said another tax measure for roads is unlikely for at least two years.

“Our community is not yet supportive of other taxes,” she said. There is a “slim possibility” more money for roads might come from the general fund, according to Gorin.

“There isn’t a lot of additional funds for unmet needs. We’ll be spending $22 million during the next two years for roads,” Gorin said. The board is disappointed Measure A failed, according to Gorin, but the county did get across the message that investments toward the aging infrastructure must be made early.

“So many people got a better idea of the financing of road repairs and the conundrum we face,” Gorin said.

The variety or organizations that supported Measure A was inspiring, Gorin said.

Those organizations included unions, the Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition, Save Our Sonoma Roads, the North Bay Labor Council, Sonoma County Conservation Action, North Coast Builders Exchange and Santa Rosa Fire Fighters Association among others.

--Bay City News/Shutterstock image

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