Tax measure on March ballot to fund snow removal equipment on South Shore

MEYERS, Calif. - The El Dorado County Department of Transportation (DOT) is asking voters in Meyers and the county areas of South Lake Tahoe for money to replace their aging snow removal fleet and equipment.

On March 3, voters will be deciding whether or not they want to pay $60 more a year via their property taxes to fund CSA3 (from Strawberry to Meeks Bay to South Lake Tahoe City Limits). Measure M, if passed, will supply an extra $540,000 annually for the sole purpose of buying and leasing snow removal equipment. The funds could not be used for salaries, pensions or any other purpose.

Tahoma isn't included in the tax raise request because they elected to add $50 more in taxes in 1983 to fund snow removal service. Brian Mullens, the County's deputy director of maintenance and operations, said the residents there went to the County to ask for the increase as they saw the need.

The current $20 fee on property taxes for snow removal was added in 1983 and provides about $134,180 a year for snow removal on the eastern slope of the county. Since that time, equipment costs have increased over 400 percent. With five or the seven blowers currently at the transportation yard for snow removal, five are over 40-years-old, the need is dire. On top of that, 93 percent of the equipment are "gross polluters" by the State of California and don't meet emission standards.

In the big winter of 2018/19, all seven snow blowers were down at one time due to mechanical failures. Fifty percent have been down so far this season.

Just as the City of South Lake Tahoe Public Works department told City Council before their budget increase, parts are no longer being made for the old equipment, and their crews are constantly keeping bandaids on them to keep moving and working to clear roads.

DOT said they would use the funds wisely and are looking at creative solutions for their fleet. It would cost $9M to replace all of the existing equipment. One new grader runs about $500,000 and a new blower is about $600,000 (They were able to be awarded a grant for two new sanders). DOT is proposing to lease loaders at $9,000 per month and buy the attachments, a plow gate ($30,000) and snowblower ($200,000).

"This is more efficient," said Mullens. He explained that funds through CSA3 tax can only be used for snow removal and so the equipment sits out in the open for almost eight months per year. If leased, the leasing company would deliver and pick up, and maintain/repair.

Mullens also said that when better gas emission equipment, up to electric, is developed, they can lease that instead of buying all new loaders.

Lake Valley Fire Department would purchase equipment if their proposed tax measure passes. Since they use it all year long, it is used differently and purchasing makes more sense than leasing.

If the measure fails, funds from needed road maintenance will continue to be diverted to snow removal, according to Mullen.

Last year his department had to use over $500,000 of road maintenance funds for snow removal equipment repairs instead of road repairs. So far, $1.1M has been used for snow removal equipment (mainly repairs) instead of road repair.

He explained a false fact that is being circulated about reimbursement for snow removal from the State. Yes, the State does reimburse cities and counties where snow removal is required, but only up to 80 percent of their expenses and only up to $7M statewide. When that pot of money is gone, it's gone, Mullens said.

He said he knows people have a mistrust of government in general and he is willing to do what is needed to show the public where the money is being spent each year. He said the Meyers Area Council will be shown and he is open to other ways.

"This tax is a way to care for Meyers and South Lake Tahoe," said Mullens. "It stays here. There are so many benefits, people would be happy."

A two-thirds "yes" vote is needed on Measure M in March to pass.