The CSAC Housing, Land Use, and Transportation (HLT) Policy
Committee took action today to recommend that the CSAC Executive
Committee and Board of Directors oppose a potential initiative to
repeal SB 1 and support ACA 5.
SB 1 – the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 – which was
passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor in April
2017 after many years of sustained advocacy by CSAC and the Fix
Our Roads Coalition, has been under attack on a number of fronts
since its passage. The transportation funding bill will provide
approximately $5 billion annually to cities, counties, and the
State for maintenance and rehabilitation work on the existing
transportation network, as well as for active transportation,
transit, goods movement, and reducing congestion.
SB 1 was passed in conjunction with ACA 5, which extends the
existing constitutional protections that ensure fuel tax revenues
are spent on transportation to the approximately 30-percent of
revenues generated by SB 1 that aren’t currently protected.
The campaign to repeal SB 1 is currently raising money and
collecting signatures to promote an initiative that would require
the Legislature to put before the electorate approval of any gas,
diesel, or vehicle-related tax or fee increase. Since the
initiative has a retroactive effective date of January 1, 2017,
it would repeal SB 1.
CSAC does not typically take positions on ballot initiatives
until measures qualify, however, the repeal of SB 1 is
unique. CSAC’s played a significant role in the effort to
secure its passage pursuant to long-standing policy to support
increased investment in transportation infrastructure.
“The condition of the local street and road system continues to
decline in counties across the state,” said Supervisor David
Rabbitt, Chair of the CSAC HLT Policy Committee. “CSAC fought
long and hard to help secure passage of SB 1 which will provide
$15 billion for local road repairs over the next decade. The HLT
Committee’s recommendation reflects our continued commitment to
our communities to provide safe and well-maintained
transportation options. Without SB 1, our roads will continue to
crumble, our economy will suffer, and tens of thousands of
middle-class jobs will disappear.”
The CSAC Executive Committee and Board of Directors will consider
these recommendations at their January 18 meetings.
