Janet Wolf: Measure A Means a Better Future for Santa Barbara County

A far-sighted plan and a unique, new approach make Measure A a key cog in the region's infrastructure.

By Janet Wolf | Published on 10.16.2008

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For the past 20 years, Santa Barbara County has been able to maintain and improve its transportation infrastructure because of funding from a half-cent sales tax that voters approved in 1989. Voters understood then that investing in our transportation infrastructure would be critical to keeping our economy healthy and protecting our quality of life. They also understood that creating a reliable, local source of funding was the best way to ensure that critical work got done — that we couldn’t rely on the state or federal government to help us.

Janet Wolf
Janet Wolf
As we look now to the next 30 years, we have an opportunity to continue what we started. Measure A on the Nov. 4 ballot will enable the county to meet its diverse and changing transportation needs by maintaining the current half-cent sales tax. Measure A recognizes that we cannot neglect the roads and highways that form the backbone of our transportation infrastructure, even as the imperative grows to reduce our dependence on the automobile and oil.

Measure A will keep our more than 2,000 miles of roads, highways and bridges safe and in good repair, protecting an existing public asset whose value reaches into the billions of dollars. Measure A will invest in technology that speeds the flow of traffic on local roads. It will widen Highway 101, fixing our county’s worst traffic bottleneck and one of the biggest threats to our economic health.

At the same time, Measure A represents a bold statement that we must develop safe, convenient and affordable alternatives to our cars. It may be the largest investment we have ever made in expanding the use of transit and alternative transportation. That’s good for us and good for the environment.

Almost a third of the total $1.05 billion that Measure A will generate over the next 30 years will go to supporting public transit and other forms of alternative transportation. That includes more bicycle paths, sidewalks and pedestrian overpasses. Measure A will provide funding for carpool and vanpool programs. It will expand local and commuter bus service, while also keeping it affordable. Measure A moves us forward in developing passenger rail service, one of the most popular and fastest-growing forms of public transit in the country.

It is Measure A’s fair and balanced approach that is perhaps its greatest strength and the reason it has earned near-unanimous support among a wide range of political, labor, business, environmental and community groups that don’t often agree on much. It reflects the diverse needs of all our residents.

Failing to pass Measure A would be disastrous for our county. It would hamstring our economy. It would mean fewer transportation options. We would forgo $522 million in matching state and federal money for transportation improvements. Failure to pass Measure A would put more pressure on local city and county budgets to pick up the slack for road repair.

Measure A is a good plan for all of Santa Barbara County. Without increasing taxes, Measure A will move our transportation system into the 21st century.

Janet Wolf represents the 2nd District on the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors.

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» No on A on 10.16.08 @ 06:22 PM

No more tax increses, let them balance the budget for once.

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» Gar Salzgeber on 10.17.08 @ 05:01 AM

When we widen Highway 101, where do you think the overflow truck traffic from I-5 will go? They will do anything to avoid the Grapevine and then learn how easy it is to take 101. Truck traffic will create much more smog and congestion.
We are only creating more problems, not solving them.
Long time Carpinteria resident who already hates driving to Santa Barbara.

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» Earl Meyers on 10.17.08 @ 07:48 AM

Absolutely vote No on this Measure.  You should not trust your representatives with one billion dollars of your money.  I have tracked on how Santa Barbara County Association of Governments has wasted this money over the years.  it is scandalous.  Yesterday they voted to support CalTrans efforts to put useless Suicide Barriers on Cold Spring Bridge. Supervisor Wolf voted for this boondoggle.  A total waste of money based on emotion, not reasonable assessment of how to use your money wisely.  The next time there is someone killed on Highway 154 or anywhere in the county on a road, think about how that person life might have been save by the millions of dollars that is going to go to those idiotic barriers.  Vote No on   Measure A

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» John Q on 10.17.08 @ 09:14 AM

I bet Wolf is voting for all the bond measures on the ballot come Nov 4.

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» Tom Becker on 10.17.08 @ 11:06 AM

Don’t be fooled by Wolf. The county has massive amounts of money. High property taxes. High sales tax. High business tax.

The waste and corruption that goes on in local, county, state and federal governments is staggering. Cost overruns, contractor favortism and bloated government payrolls add 50% to every project.

It’s time to start cutting taxes and government waste. Please vote no on Measure A. Let true government reform begin here.

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» Dave on 10.17.08 @ 06:21 PM

Measure A is the right way to go.  We need to keep our infrastructure maintained and reduce traffic.  This local measure will ensure we do not have out road money stolen by Sacramento.

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» Business Leader on 10.18.08 @ 08:44 AM

Definitely a YES on Measure A. It’s a simple renewal of the existing Measure D, which has been in place since 1989, and provided countless benefits to the region. I guarantee every one of the negative commenters drives the hell out of their cars. This is quite simply the best way to pay for roads, bridges, buses, bike paths, etc. Period.

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» Chapala for A on 10.18.08 @ 02:48 PM

If measure A fails, the first people who will complain about our crumbling street and transportation infrastructure will be the opponents of the measure.

Vote Yes on A.  It’s not a new tax increase, you will pay the same tax as the last 20 years.

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» Lee S on 10.18.08 @ 03:35 PM

You know…. I live 4 miles from where I work and I ride my bike 50% of the time (often with my kids).  I sort of resent that comment that “we drive our cars to death”.  I am NOT if favor of tax increase in general, but I would like to see healthier roads, bridges, etc.  Government waste and misuse does concern me.  What I would like to see is a balanced budget for ALL of California based on the existing 7.25%(or even the 7.75%) sales tax, property tax intakes and general state taxes.  It seems to me that entitlement programs and services are really cutting in to what SHOULD be a healthy budget.  I’m undecided on Measure A right now, but its time for California to wake up and take care of its income tax paying citizenry.

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» Business Leader on 10.19.08 @ 11:59 PM

Lee S,

I understand your frustration, but the problem really originated years ago when property taxes were for all intensive purposes “frozen”. The result unfortunately means the state, counties and cities in California must figure out how to provide essential services to the tax-paying citizenry. While costs for these services (like maintaining roads for example) have gone up over time, the gap in lost property tax revenue continues to widen.

That’s why being a self-help county (having a local sales tax dedicated to paying for transportation needs) makes so much sense. You cut away much of the federal and state bureaucracy by raising the money locally, deciding how to spend it locally, and using it to leverage state and federal monies into our county. It’s truly a win-win situation for Santa Barbara County!

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