The Transportation Authority of Marin has sent the plan to Marin city and town councils for consideration. So far all of the councils have given approval, with Sausalito to be the last to take the issue up later this month. A majority of cities need to sign off on the plan and that has been assured.
The TAM board itself gave an initial approval to get the plan on the November ballot when it met last week. A final approval is expected July 26, followed by a request of the Board of Supervisors to put the issue on the November ballot. The supervisors are compelled by law to put it on the ballot, according to TAM.
The sales tax is not new, but a continuation of one passed in 2004 as Measure A, a 20-year plan.
That tax will continue to March 2025, but transportation officials are looking to extend that tax for 30 years at an earlier date. A simple extension of the tax would restart it on April 1, 2019, if approved by voters and allow the transportation authority to update and change its spending plan as needs shift. At a half cent, the tax yields close to $25 million annually.
“The current tax is 15 years old and restrictive,” said Dianne Steinhauser, executive director of TAM, noting key projects currently can’t be funded with sales taxes because of the 2004 ballot language.
Among other things, officials say the sales tax renewal would:
• Provide local matching funds to accelerate completion of the Marin-Sonoma Narrows widening and a Highway 101/Interstate 580 direct connector.
• Provide funding to improve operations and enhance safety at interchanges and access routes to and from Highway 101 throughout the county.
• Dedicate funding for commute alternatives and trip reduction programs that reduce peak hour congestion.
The program would also address roads in relation to sea-level rise, support alternative fuel vehicles, expand the crossing guard program, create limited school bus service and retain the Safe Routes to Schools program for students.
There would be an annual review of plans and a more intensive look every six years that could result in changes if approved by the TAM board and a majority of cities and towns.
A TAM poll released earlier this year showed 47.5 percent of voters would “definitely” vote yes for a sales tax renewal, while 30.4 percent would “probably” vote yes. Pollsters consider that as 77.9 percent in support of the measure. A two-thirds approval — 66.67 percent — is needed to pass a sales tax. The poll had a margin of error of 3.47 percent.
When presented with potential opposition arguments — the gas tax has gone up, traffic is worse than ever, the measure would be growth inducing — and other information, overall support dropped to 73.2 percent.
Marin’s Coalition of Sensible Taxpayers has yet to review the proposal, but is set to meet with TAM officials within the next week to go over parameters before taking a position, said Mimi Willard, a member of the group.
“We have to get educated on the issue first before we can offer an opinion,” Willard said.
