To: Board of Supervisors
From: Supervisor Steve Madrone
Agenda Section: Initiated by Board Member
SUBJECT:
title
Revenue Options for Overall Roads Maintenance and Repairs, Trails, Parks and Other Services
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Discuss options to increase revenues to provide road maintenance and repair, trail and park maintenance, and other county services.
2. Consider allocating a position to Public Works to pursue grant funding for roads, trails, parks and other county services.
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SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Roads Fund (1320), General Fund (1100)
DISCUSSION:
Residents in Humboldt County have continued to stress the need for more road repairs, maintenance and other county services, however, the county continues to lack the funding to provide additional services. Individuals living in the county are already spending substantial funds on car repairs and delays in travel for them, as well as emergency services to respond to life-threating situations. Regarding roads, there is an estimated roughly $10 million in additional funding needed per year to keep up with needed maintenance. While the state's Senate Bill 1 from several years ago provided additional funding, that source alone is not enough to allow the county to properly maintain its roads, and certainly not enough to provide meaningful upgrades. However, if the county had a road tax, it would become a "self-help county," making it eligible for more funding under this law. Even the recently signed federal infrastructure bill will not fill the funding gap local roads are experiencing.
Supervisor Madrone is bringing this item before the Board to discuss potential options for increasing revenue to provide additional road, trail and park maintenance, and other county services.
One option is to place a revenue measure on the November, 2022 ballot. There are quickly approaching deadlines related to the November election - with Aug. 12, 2022 being t...
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