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County of Santa Barbara Transportation Sales Tax, Measure A (November 2008)

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A County of Santa Barbara Transportation Sales Tax, Measure A ballot question was on the November 4, 2008 ballot in Santa Barbara, California, where it was approved.

Measure A authorized Santa Barbara County to impose a one-half cent sales tax that is a continuation of Measure D, a one-half percent transportation sales tax that voters approved in 1989.

Measure A campaign logo

A two-thirds (66.67%) vote was required to approve Measure A.

Measure D, the original sales tax measure to support transportation in the county, was set to expire in 2010. It funded 17 regional transportation projects, including the widening of Highway 101 from Milpas Street to Hot Springs Road.

The county expected to perform these projects if Measure A was approved:

  • Repair potholes;
  • Complete the widening of Highway 101 from Santa Barbara to Carpinteria;
  • Improve local streets, and highways;
  • Provide safe routes to school;
  • Expand public bus services and passenger rail, with increased senior and disabled accessibility;
  • Improve pedestrian and bike paths;
  • Synchronize traffic signals;
  • Earthquake retrofit bridges, tunnels and overpasses;
  • Mitigate runoff and water pollution from road construction

Election results

Measure A
ResultVotesPercentage
Approveda Yes 130,278 79.15%
No34,30920.85%
These final, certified, election results are from the Santa Barbara County elections office.

Measure D in 2006

Voters rejected a Measure D in 2006 that would have had the same impact as 2008's Measure A, namely, extending Measure D from 1989. Measure D of 2006, however, proposed an actual increase in the tax from one-half cent to 3/4ths of a cent, whereas the 2008 proposal keeps the tax the same as it has been for nearly 20 years.

In 2006, Measure D got a 54.57% vote, but needed a 2/3rds vote for approval.

Ballot question

Area of road improvements

The question on the ballot:

MEASURE A: "Shall voters approve an ordinance to:
  • Repair potholes;
  • Provide safe routes to school;
  • Widen Highway 101 south of Santa Barbara to relieve congestion;
  • Implement local street/highway safety improvements;
  • Expand public bus services/passenger rail, with increased senior/disabled accessibility;
  • Synchronize traffic signals;
  • Earthquake retrofit bridges/overpasses;
  • Increase pedestrian/bike safety;

by continuing, but not increasing, the existing half-cent sales tax for 30 years with local control, independent financial audits and public review of expenditures?"[1]

External links

v • e
Local taxes on the ballot in California
  1. ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
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