Sacramento County roads are so bad, ‘potholes are the best part,’ this leader says
Sacramento County officials will be debating an $8 billion transportation sales tax for the next few months. But one county leader has already unleashed the best quote.
During an argument over the measure Thursday, Supervisor Don Nottoli, who lives on a rural road in Wilton, vehemently lamented that the county’s heavily traveled southeast roads are a shambles.
“The potholes are the best part of the roads in areas I represent,” Nottoli said.
The line drew laughs. But Nottoli was serious, speaking passionately as he and members of the Sacramento Transportation Authority board struggle to fashion a transportation sales tax measure for the November 2020 ballot that they say is needed to fill large gaps in city and county budgets as area population increases.
The STA board is made up of members of the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors and representatives from city councils around the county. Some members lean toward transit improvements and ways of lowering carbon emissions. Others are pushing for more funds for road repairs.
The STA staff on Thursday unveiled an initial draft proposal on how to divvy up what are expected to be $8 billion in revenues, if voters agree to approve a multi-decade 1/2-cent increase to the county sales tax:
- 38.2 percent of the funds would go to local street repair, rebuilding and safety improvements.
- 32.3 percent would go to congestion relief projects, including improving local roads connecting to thoroughfares, as well as money for freeway interchanges and carpool or toll lanes. Some of that money would go to the Capital SouthEast Connector road project. Some also would go to commuter rail programs.
23.6 percent would go to new buses, safety and security on buses and light rail, new low-floor zero-emission light rail cars, and further funding for a public transit ride-share program called SmaRT Ride.
3 percent would go to programs and services for seniors and disabled persons.
1.5 percent would go toward air quality programs.
1 percent would go to administrative costs for the sales tax program.
A small percentage would go toward establishing a public/private Regional Mobility Center.
A copy of the proposal, including a listing of which streets are under consideration for funding and more detail about transit funding is available on the STA website.
The group plans to listen to public input in the next few months, including a Jan. 9 STA board meeting, then attempt to finalize a spending plan in spring to bring to voters in November.
Among STA board members Thursday, Sacramento City Council members Jeff Harris and Steve Hansen pushed to bring local air quality officials into the mix, asking them to determine whether the project list would help the region in its efforts to bring itself back into compliance with federal air quality standards.
That brought pushback from Elk Grove Councilman Pat Hume, Rancho Cordova representative Garrett Gatewood and County Supervisor Sue Frost, each of whom said they do not believe the measure, as written, will win the necessary two-thirds public vote. Gatewood said there is not enough in it for his city. Frost said voters will want more money spent on fixing roads and reducing car congestion.
Nottoli argued for money for rural roads, but said he believes a consensus can be reached: “We can find that sweet spot.”
Notably, 35 members of the public signed up to speak at the meeting, but did not get the chance. Chairwoman Susan Peters ended the meeting after 90 minutes, saying the city/county library board had reserved the supervisors chambers next.
She apologized and asked them to come back to speak at the January meeting.
This story was originally published December 12, 2019 at 5:55 PM.