South Tahoe Now: Why Measure C is needed now

Many of South Lake Tahoe's roads are decades past their prime, and Measure C is in front of voters November 7 to increase taxes by one-half percent to pay for their maintenance and repair.

I support Measure C and let me tell you why, but it will have to start with a look back to see how we got here.

There is no magic pot of money to fix roads. Opponents to the measure say one of the reason the City was incorporated in 1965 was to provide roads for the locals and visitors. The city was created by the combination of the previously unincorporated communities of Al Tahoe, Bijou, Bijou Park, Stateline, Tahoe Valley, and Tallac Village.

While this is true, the cost of road maintenance has increased with no extra funding sources sending bag fulls of money to the City to get this done. When the City was founded the budget was not set up in a way that allowed for consistent, dedicated funding for roads. It was only through discretionary allotments that the Public Works department would get money to fix roads, and that would change with each year's budget. This unsustainable configuration has left South Lake Tahoe’s roads neglected and deteriorating even in the best of years.

In the beginning, roads were created cheaply and quickly, pouring asphalt onto a dirt bed. Pavement is flexible and moves with the road underneath it so if the bed under a road is not created correctly, problems will arise sooner rather than later. In the 1970s-80s, an annual budget of $300,000 was all that was needed to keep them in decent order, but their short lifespan was already showing in deteriorating roadways.

In 2000, the City started to build reserves, the rainy day accounts to help them weather unforeseen circumstances such as the financial collapse of 2007-2008 in the U.S. and the upcoming extra CalPers payments totaling millions annually. In order to create reserves, tough decisions were made and budgets for road maintenance and the parks department were trimmed and repair was deferred.

Now, in 2017, the 52-year-old roads are showing their age and the big winter of 2015-16 exposed their weaknesses, and a million or two is not enough to get them to the standards those using them expect.

"I've dug through the budget," said Assistant Public Works Director Jim Marino told South Tahoe Now. "The money is not there."

He said the overall road conditions in South Lake Tahoe get a C-.

"If Measure C passes we'll get the work done," added Marino. "It won't go to trails as there is no extra money or time and it won't go to anything but roads."

Two citizens have already been appointed to the Roads Management Authority Commission, with the remaining three-five people to be appointed during the November 7 City Council meeting. The locally-controlled funding provided through Measure C will overseen by this group. By law, funds from Measure C can only be used to improve local streets and roads, and the authority will ensure road projects are completed throughout South Lake Tahoe.

Opponents have stated that funds will be hijacked by future City Councils and used for other purposes, but this cannot happen by law.

A special tax, as defined in Article XIII A, Section 4 of the Constitution, is a tax levied for a specific purpose, rather than a levy placed in the general fund to be utilized for general governmental purposes.

Opponents have stated that City Council should have budgeted for roads.

One cannot change the past, and many of those vocal opponents were part of past City Councils that didn't, or couldn't, put extra funding into roads. As a community we need to look forward and continue make this the best possible place to live, work and play. While roadwork is not fancy, it needs to be done to continue the active lifestyle many enjoy in South Lake Tahoe.

The safety of roads is an issue that needs to be addressed, and Marino and his team are ready once funding is available.

Many use local roads to commute to and from work on a bicycle. Bike trail systems are meant more for recreational rider and commuters tend to use roads. A large pot hole was the cause of death of a local man this summer when he hit it, fell and ruptured his spleen.

There is no denying roads need to be fixed, no matter what side of the Measure one is one. How we get them fixed is the issue. Do we patch up, or do we get to the root of the problem and start with the base and create the road bed necessary for paving to withstand weather and use?

An extra one-half cent sales tax is an investment in our future. If one were to spend $5,000 a year on taxable goods they'd be paying $25 a year extra. There is no tax on food or medicine. The highest percentage sales tax in the City comes from restaurants, so everyone shares in this tax, not just locals. People from out of town, Meyers, Nevada pass by on South Lake Tahoe roads to buy goods, and they'll be paying their share.

Based on projections, the tax will generate an extra $2.5 million a year dedicated solely to roads. While this won't fix all right away, there would be money every year.

Vote approved sales tax increases in communities have given the Bay Area Rapid Transit District the funds necessary to provide transportation to hundreds of thousands of people, the Town of Truckee a network of bike paths and Park City a historic downtown and revitalization.

An extra 25 cents for that $50 dinner out, an extra 50 cents for that $100 outfit or an extra $1.50 for that new $300 bike is worth it, in my opinion, to have great roads to drive on.

Measure C is supported by the business community with both the Lake Tahoe South Shore Chamber of Commerce and the South Lake Tahoe Chamber of Commerce supporting it as they see the value of good roads. The El Dorado County Republican and Democratic parties both support it, as does the El Dorado County Taxpayers Association, along with many local leaders and agencies including the League to Save Lake Tahoe.

It makes no sense to "kick the can down the road" any longer and I support Measure C.