Fail: 63407 / 54.47% Yes votes ...... 53007 / 45.53% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

A county local transportation authority may adopt an ordinance imposing a retail transactions and use tax to fund local and regional transportation projects and programs specified in an expenditure plan. The sales tax must be approved by a two-thirds vote at a countywide election.

Santa Barbara County voters approved a Santa Barbara County Local Transportation Ordinance Authority ("Measure D") imposing a ½ cent sales tax and adopting a transportation expenditure plan. Measure D authorization expries 3/31/2010.

Measure D2006 extends the existing authorization to 3/31/2040 and increases the tax rate to 3/4 cent for 30 years beginning 4/1/2010. The new Measure D Renewal ordinance and Expenditure Plan, if approved, becomes effective 4/1/2010.

Dated July 31, 2005 The Ordinance and Expenditure Plan is published in the ballot pamphlet.

Tax revenues may only be used to improve transportation facilities and services consistent with the adopted Expenditure Plan (including environmental review, and administration) (#13). Expenditures must be consistent with regional and State transportation plans. Program funds are allocated 50% to Regional Programs (regionally important project specified in the Expenditure Plan) and 50% to Local Programs (projects selected by cities and county) allocated as follows:

• 80.1% to cities and the county per population, after each jurisdiction receives a $50,000 base allocation.
• North County jurisdictions share 13.2%.
• South County jurisdictions share 6.7%(#15(A).) (This local North-South share balances higher regional program expenditures in South County.)

Local Program funds must be used to supplement current transportation levels and used for maintenance and improvement of local roads, safety projects and transit services. Regional program funds may be used for Capacity, Operational and Safety Improvement, Rural Highway Safety, and alternative transit services.

The ordinance requires the Authority to meet in public and encourage public participation, an advisory Citizens Oversight Committee, and annual audits. It allows cooperative funding agreements between jurisdictions. Local jurisdictions must maintain expenditures of local discretionary funds for streets and roads at FY 2006-2007 levels in order to receive funds (#18-23).

The Authority may not spend more than 1% of sales tax funds for salaries and benefits (#26). Funds must be held in a separate account with interest spent only for the purposes allocated. A maximum annual appropriations limit of $125,000.00 is established beginning in 2009-2010. Limited tax bonds to accelerate construction of transportation projects re authorized. Except for tax rates, termination date, and appropriations limit, the Authority may amend the Ordinance or Expenditure Plan by 2/3 vote (## 28-30).

$469,000.00 sales tax funds are anticipated to leverage $554,000.00 of other funds (Plan Table 1.) The 1/4% tax is estimated to generate $1,575.000.00 over 30 years.

A YES vote on Measure D2006 means the Ordinance and tax are APPROVED.

A NO vote on Measure D2006 means the Ordinance and tax are NOT APPROVED and the existing Measure D authorization expires 3/31/2010.

The Grand Jury Report on Measure D