So the ballots are out, and it’s time to consider many important issues. One issue is in regards to the state of our county roads. I am sure it takes no convincing to recognize the need to repair our roads. They are in horrible condition, and in fact state data show that on average each car owner is spending $900 per year per car on repairs related to bad roads. Shocks, tires and rims, alignments and more from hitting potholes and rough patches. The question is how to raise funds for road repair.

Measure O is on the ballot to raise funds for road repair and a small amount for transit. There are those that have said it should have been a special tax earmarked for roads, but that would have taken 67% of voters to pass. That would have been an unlikely outcome. Polling suggest that a majority will support the measure, but not 67%. So we decided to do it as a General Obligation tax that only needs 50% plus one to pass. Yes, that means that the funds go into the general fund and there is no guarantee that these funds will go to roads. While that is true, the ballot language was crafted carefully to be sure that roads will be the primary use of the funds, with a little to transit. Read the ballot language carefully and you will see that it says 911 emergency response will be improved by fixing roads!

Measure Z was a General Obligation tax as well, and we have made sure that the funds raised did go to improving Public Safety, as promised. Not one dollar went to existing General Fund expenses. We fulfilled our promise to the voters. We hired more deputies and supported local fire departments and have a Measure Z committee to keep all spending accountable. Measure O will also have an accountability committee made up of road experts, labor contractors and members of the public to keep all spending on track. We fulfilled our promise to voters on Measure Z and we will assure these funds from Measure O go to roads and some for transit.

Currently, the limited funds we have for roads goes mostly to emergency repairs, and we have little left to leverage federal and state funding. With Measure O we will generate $24 million dollars per year, and that will allow us to leverage significant federal and state funding. Twenty percent of our funds will leverage 80% federal funding. That means that we could leverage up to $100 million dollars per year with federal and state assistance. That means potholes can be fixed, roadsides mowed to reduce fire starts and visibility increased for cars, bikes and pedestrians. It means taking care of roads before they fall apart and require complete, expensive rebuilds.

Yes, taxes add up, and inflation has hit everyone hard, but this is a small price to pay for greatly improved road conditions. And as mentioned above, we are all already spending the money on expensive car repairs. Let’s move those funds up front and be proactive in repairing roads before they tear our cars apart. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Please consider supporting Measure O as the sensible approach to taking care of our roads. This one cent sales tax is only on taxable items. It does not apply to food, rent, medicines and medical care, and many other items. Thank you for your support.

Steve Madrone
Humboldt County 5th District Supervisor