Title
Department of Transportation recommending the Board:
1) Receive and file a presentation by consultant FM3 Research of Key Findings of a County-wide survey regarding voter views of a potential transportation finance measure;
and
2) Provide direction to staff regarding next steps, including approval for the Purchasing Agent to sign Agreement for Services 4710 with AMF Strategies Group for a not to exceed amount of $40,000 for a four month term to provide a public outreach and education program for the Department of Transportation. (Est. Time: 1 Hr.)
FUNDING: Public Utility Franchise Fees.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
On April 9, 2019, the Director of Transportation presented the Board with a summary of the state of the County Road Fund, which is predicted to fall short by $2.8 million in Fiscal Year 2020-21. The Director presented several funding options including grant funding, County Services Area expansions, a motor vehicle registration fee, Transient Occupancy Tax increase, the use of Tribe agreement funding for roads, and a sales tax measure that would enable the County to qualify for additional funding from the State. The Board directed staff to explore the feasibility of a ballot measure that would qualify El Dorado County as a self-help county according to Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 (SB 1).
There is an incentive program wherein new or renewed voter-approved measures may receive the total projected annual revenue resulting from the measure. For example, a sales tax measure that is anticipated to generate $6 million over the course of one year would also be awarded $6 million the first year only. The total amount for this program is $20 million per year, which is distributed among each of the counties that approve new measures.
A ½ cent sales tax measure in El Dorado County is estimated to result in approximately $6 million each year in revenue. For the first year in effect, the measure could receive a Local Partnership Program in...
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