The Metropolitan Transportation Commission Final 2003 Legislative Program indicates MTC's priority 1 support for an appropriate measure to reduce the 2/3rds vote requirement for transportation taxes. According to the MTC Program, "Currently, 17 counties representing approximately 85% of the state's population have passed local sales tax measures. Of these, 14 will face reauthorization within the next 10 years. In the Bay Area, Marin, Sonoma and, most recently, Solano County all failed in their efforts to enact sales taxes with 2/3rds majority. Given the scarcity of new state or federal funds available for transportation in the near future, it is essential that local governments be given greater flexibility to raise their own funds." San Mateo County's current half-cent sales tax for transportation will expire in 2008. Efforts to reauthorize the transportation tax have begun. C/CAG is in support of ACA 7. A similar bill, SCA 2 (Torlakson) would reduce the 2/3rds vote for transportation related sales tax to a simple majority. It would also require 25% of such funds to be used for smart growth planning. C/CAG and several other transportation groups have asked that the smart growth provision be amended. CSAC has taken an oppose-unless-amended position for SCA 2. While CSAC supports the reduction from 2/3rds to a simple majority for transportation related sales tax increases, it opposes the restriction that 25% of those funds be dedicated to smart growth planning. CSAC opines that use of the funds be left to the discretion of local governments. The Legislative Committee recommends support for ACA 7 (Dutra). |