11/8/18 Update with Results

10/31/18 On November 6, voters across the country will be weighing in on a wide variety of transportation, housing, and land use decisions. As the Sacramento region focuses on the results of Proposition 6, which would eliminate certain road repair and transportation funding, and various local sales and parcel tax increases, voters also have the chance to address many other issues impacting their community. Below is an overview of some of the local and state measures voters will see across the country this election.

Sacramento Region

A variety of tax measures are on the ballot locally. At least one jurisdiction in five of the six counties in our region is seeking some type of revenue increase. In El Dorado County, voters countywide will decide on a hotel tax increase and a new tax on marijuana businesses. Placerville is also looking to tax marijuana businesses. In Placer County, voters in Rocklin are being asked to authorize the continuance of a local parcel tax, Roseville voters will decide the fate of a sales tax increase, and in Colfax, voters will decide whether to tax marijuana businesses. Voters in Folsom and the City of Sacramento will both see sales tax measures on their ballots. In Yolo County, West Sacramento voters will vote on a sales tax increase, as will Yuba County voters.

Other Local Measures in California

In addition to local general tax increases, voters throughout California will also see local measures specific to housing, rent control, and transportation. Many jurisdictions are looking for new revenue streams to help address their homelessness and housing issues. Voters in Richmond and Oakland have the opportunity to enact California’s first taxes on privately owned vacant properties and many local ballots include housing bonds or specific taxes to fund affordable housing and homeless services. Rent control is another common issue throughout the state, with a number of jurisdictions looking to enact various rent control and tenant protection measures. Of note, some proposed rent control measures failed to make the ballot. In Pasadena and Long Beach, signature gatherers failed to meet the submission deadline for the November ballot and supporters in Inglewood turned in almost 14,000 signatures, but not enough were found valid to meet the required threshold.

Finally, jurisdictions statewide are considering new local revenue measures for transportation purposes. San Mateo County voters will decide whether to enact a 0.5 percent sales tax for 30 years to fund road improvements, transit services, and implementation of the San Mateo County Congestion Relief Plan, San Benito County voters have a one percent sales tax increase on the ballot to fund roads and transportation, and Marin voters will vote on a renewal of their transportation sales tax. These measures will require approval from two-thirds of voters. San Jose is taking a different approach for new transportation funding by asking voters to approve a bond measure to fund critical infrastructure such as public safety, roads and bridges, and water and stormwater upgrades.

Measures Nationwide

Across the country voters will also decide important measures for their communities. Numerous states are considering new funding options for transportation. Of particular interest is Colorado, where voters face dueling statewide ballot measures. One approach, Proposition 109: “Fix Our Damn Roads”, authorizes $3.5 billion in bonds to pay for road and bridge expansion and specific projects. No money is included for local governments or multi-modal projects. The General Fund would pay for the debt, which would have priority over other state obligations. The other measure, Proposition 110: “Let’s Go Colorado”, increases sales taxes to pay for up to $6 billion in bonds for a wide range of transportation related projects, including funding for state projects, local governments, and multi-modal transportation projects, such as mass transit, rail, and bicycle lanes. The Eno Center for Transportation is closely watching the 314 transportation measures across the U.S. that it has identified on the ballot this November and has released a podcast mini-series about five key transportation ballot measures in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, and Missouri .