ABOUT MEASURE A
In November 2008, voters in Santa Barbara County overwhelmingly approved with 79% support a ballot measure to extend a one-half percent sales tax for transportation that was set to expire in 2010. The Road Repair, Traffic Relief and Transportation Safety Measure, referred to by its ballot designation "Measure A" will implement needed transportation improvement projects and programs in Santa Barbara County from 2010 to 2040. It will generate approximately $1.050 billion over its life and will help leverage and match an estimated $0.5 billion in state and federal funds.
Measure A went into effect and revenues began to be collected on April 2010. Funds will be spent on high priority transportation projects and programs that advisory committees in the North County and South Coast regions of the county have selected to address the current and future needs of each region. The measure calls for North County and the South Coast of the county to each receive 43.4 percent of revenues, or an estimated $455 million, generated over the 30 years the measure is in effect for high priority transportation projects and programs. |
The highest priority project in the Measure A program, the widening of U.S. 101 on the South Coast of the county, will receive 13.4 percent of revenues generated, estimated at $140 million, which will be used to match an estimated $285 million in state and federal funding to fully fund the project.
Administration of Measure A is the responsibility of the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG), as the Local Transportation Authority for the county. SBCAG is comprised of a 13 member board of elected officials. All five county supervisors are members of the board, as are a city councilmember or mayor from each of the eight incorporated cities in the county, selected by their respective city councils. The board is served by a professional staff of 20 that implements board policies, provides the board with recommendations on the effective use of Measure A funding, and is responsible for the day to day operations of Measure A. This includes accounting for and allocating funding to projects, program and partner agencies and working with partner agencies to construct and deliver projects and services.
SBCAG is committed to administering Measure A according to strict accountability provisions including annual independent financial audits and public review of expenditures by the Citizen's Oversight Committee.
Administration of Measure A is the responsibility of the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG), as the Local Transportation Authority for the county. SBCAG is comprised of a 13 member board of elected officials. All five county supervisors are members of the board, as are a city councilmember or mayor from each of the eight incorporated cities in the county, selected by their respective city councils. The board is served by a professional staff of 20 that implements board policies, provides the board with recommendations on the effective use of Measure A funding, and is responsible for the day to day operations of Measure A. This includes accounting for and allocating funding to projects, program and partner agencies and working with partner agencies to construct and deliver projects and services.
SBCAG is committed to administering Measure A according to strict accountability provisions including annual independent financial audits and public review of expenditures by the Citizen's Oversight Committee.