The following is a column submitted by Mendocino County 3rd District Supervisor John Haschak. The opinions expressed in this column do not necessarily reflect the views of the Mendocino Voice.
One of the complaints I hear regularly is regarding the condition of county roads. There are plenty of potholes and overall poor conditions. The Mendocino Council of Governments, of which I am the Chair, and the Department of Transportation are collaborating to propose a one cent sales tax dedicated to road improvements. This would repair potholes, prolong the life of roads and repair major county-maintained roads.
If passed by the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors, it will go to county voters in November, excluding voters within incorporated cities (Ukiah, Willits, Fort Bragg and Point Arena). The tax would only apply in the unincorporated areas of the county. This would provide much-needed funding (about $5.5 million annually) and allow the county to access state funds for self-help counties.
Mendocino College is beginning construction on a new 18,843-sq.-ft. building in Willits to support a fire academy and construction trades program, important for its growing enrollment. Congressman Jared Huffman and State Senator Mike McGuire were instrumental in getting Mendocino College the funding. Working together, we are creating long term career and technical education opportunities.
The Great Redwood Trail Agency is completing the Master Plan. The vote to approve the Master Plan is on March 19. This 586-page document will guide the progress of the GRT. It will have an impact in the 3rd District. Some segments have been completed already, some are under construction, and others are future concepts. One example: the segment from Willits to Longvale (where Hwy 101 and Hwy 162 meet) is being planned by the Mendocino Land Trust. Of course, there are issues to be resolved but this will provide access to the beautiful areas north of Willits. Another issue yet to be determined is herbicide use on the GRT. The rail line has a toxic history, and this is an opportunity to do things differently.
The mid-year budget was presented to the board. This year the overall budget is projected to be balanced by the end of the fiscal year. The Auditor-Controller is projecting an additional $2.8 million in revenue. This will help balance the budget since some departments are projected to be over budget. The D.A.’s budget looks to be $1.2 million over, about 18%, and the supervisors’ budget will be over by $150,000, 16%. I had proposed cuts to the supervisors’ budget in July, but the majority didn’t support the cuts. Next year’s General Fund budget is projected to have a $5 million gap between revenues and expenditures.
The board supported using $500,000 of one-time-only money on water. Since this was not really defined or explained how the money will be used, I requested that the CEO come back with a written plan for the money. The board supports the work of the Inland Water and Power Commission in regards to the Potter Valley Project and the future of water in both the Eel and Russian rivers. We need to know how the money will be spent and that it aligns with the board’s policies.
There will be a Talk with the Supervisor on Thursday, March 12, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Brickhouse Coffee in Willits. You can always contact me at haschakj@mendocinocounty.gov or call 707-972-4214.
In Mendocino County sales tax and property taxes are already too high for average incomes here. The only ones making any money work in the health field or the government, otherwise it is a barely-get-by struggle. Don’t raise taxes to fix potholes. Why are they not a priority already?
Find one person in the county who says they are happy and contented with the current spending of taxes by the county. Let’s meet this person. A truly remarkable person.
Agree, Dave. In Redwood Valley, I (limited income, older widow), have to pay to maintain my long driveway, which connects to neighborhood road. We Folks living along that road pay to maintain it. We have no street lights. Once getting to the county road, which gets constant traffic from heavy trucks and machinery, we should be charged even more? Outrageous! Gas taxes are high enough and going up.Property taxes are already high. I spend most of my income on taxes on everything and insurance. I drive a small older car that gets 30 MPG and don’t drive much. I pay close to $300 per month for Medicare. Cannot afford supplement insurance. I cannot even live very well on what is left. I stretch out my grocery money and don’t even eat any meat. How much $$$$ do the Supes get to meet and decide what people should pay. I am moving out of Mendocino after living there for almost 35 years. Too much of a price to pay for clean air and a view.
This is not a “one cent” tax, it is 1% of everything I purchase subject to sales tax – which is almost everything. If the average family spends $3,000 per month on items subject to sales tax, then this is a $360 tax, not a one cent tax. Calling it a one cent tax is intentionally misleading. With the high price of everything already, call it what it is – an inflationary cost. Find savings by eliminating a few unnecessary administrative positions instead of reaching into residents’ pockets again.
How about each landowner pays a tax (bond) based on the distance to the major highway? In addition, I would add a new road cost to business licenses for high volume businesses. Perhaps the number metric could be based on # of employees and/ or gross receipt, etc which would indicate more traffic use on roads. One way to think about it is how much infrastructure (in replacement $$$ dollars) does it take to get to my home/ business from the highway. Landowners who are farther and/ or require more frequent trips from the highway pay more annually based on volume of traffic. Seems more fair than to charge every consumer a one cent tax since many people live closer to the highways (and may never use many of these county roads) and are already struggling to pay bills for their families given the current economic climate. Seems much more fair.
Are you f’ing kidding me? You can’t manage the money you have and you want more from our pockets????? The people can’t afford more pick pocketing you arrogant group of leaders. Vote yourself a raise year after year and tax the people more for services we are already taxed for. And incorporated cities cannot vote but we will pay too if voted in. VOTE NO!!!! This has to stop. Do your jobs!!! Infrastructure should come first in your budgeting always, everything else comes after if there is money. What a s#@% show you five are.
I totally agree! Unfortunately, giving more money to the county DOT will not fix the problem unless you hire a department head who has actual experience in road building and maintenance. Working for the county road department does not qualify as experience unless you have worked in actual road construction. Hire qualified individuals instead of the ‘Good old Boys’ system that is currently being used. Hiring consultants to show Dept. heads how to do their jobs is not acceptable.
Maybe stop spending money on lawyers due to stupid decisions by the BOS
It would be interesting to see how much they spend on outside counsel
Has anyone noticed that large legacy landowners pay little or no property tax and are exempted from other taxation in various ways? How about changing those rules and creating value for all, equally? Rather than a sales tax that inordinately affects and effects the lowest income groups disporportiately. Hmmmm?
I agree. The Landowners living far away and businesses that tear up roads disproportionately should absorb these most of these road costs.
Design a smarter urban landscape that keeps road costs reasonable for everyone.
Bring back the trains and horse buggies
Bring the smart rail into Ukiah and Willits. Make use of the remodeled train station.
You are like a wayward brother who keeps coming back so ask for more money, citing his dire circumstances and a promise to be more fiscally responsible from now on. Only to go out and blow the money once again. Only a fool would put up with this behavior.
Interesting. The Annexation would split the revenue. So is this to give those outside Annexation, more income, to cover what is lost to Ukiah city proper? It’s too odd a timing, for myself, to not wonder about new taxes being added especially by someone whom is retiring. The citizens are already stretched to the max by horrific inflation. Just chocolate chips are 10.49 a bag at Raleys?? Used to be 6.99 and before that 4.99. That’s a 110% raise on this one item in just two years! Soon living in this area, will be unsustainable. And the excessive taxation, will be a part of that formula. Ted Williams wants a new tax on property, for EMS services?? Where do these politicians think the money will come from? It’s scary how they just are delusional about the current economy and peoples income. Out of touch with daily people and lives. Balance with what you have. Cut the waste. No trails, better roads. No Lake Mendocino new community area. They bought old Rug place for millions. Why? In town already a yard for city works. Its like they want to look good, over priorities in life. Tourist are not the priority. People being able to live in the county are their constituents.
Chocolate Chip Cookies for $10.49! I won’t pay! What’s next? Peanut Butter Cups? I remember when the bite-sized “Minis” peanut butter cups were a penny apiece. Now, who knows? But I bet it’s a lot.
City of Ukiah already has a sales tax for road maintenance, unlike Mendocino county. Unlike the City of Ukiah, Mendocino has over 1000 miles of county roads to manage vs Ukiah’s 53 miles of road.
City of Ukiah:
16500 residence / 53 miles = 311 tax payers per 1 mile of road to manage.
(This isn’t counting all the external sales tax from outsiders shopping in Ukiah which increases the number of tax payers per mile)
Mendocino County:
70k residence / 1015 miles = 67 tax payers per 1 mile of road to manage.
California is increasing its gas tax, with the rate rising to 61.2 cents per gallon on July 1, 2025, to fund state and local road repairs via Senate Bill 1. This ongoing funding, which includes a 1.6-cent increase, supports projects in local communities like Ukiah to fix roads, bridges, and improve infrastructure.
SB 1 Funding: The Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 (SB 1) raises approximately $5 billion annually for transportation projects across the state, including local streets and, bridges.
California invests billions of dollars to fix roads with “gas tax,” expand bus and train service | Governor of California https://share.google/af9tESL9Rkwe9Us0X
This is absolutely rediculous. People already struggling and you just want to keep sucking them dry. Another Gavin Newscum.
I have an idea. Somebody ask Texas and Florida how they are able to take care of their roads when they don’t even have a state income tax. What are they doing that we could learn from them? What’s the secret sauce?
Texas has higher property tax rates than CA, along with high sales tax and an extensive / expensive toll way system that nickel and dimes you depending on which exit you get off in.
Sounds like Californians moved there. “We are from California and we are here to help.”
I know of many that moved to places like Texas and want to come back but can’t because they sold their prop 13 protected million dollar house in CA to go buy a tornado alley house where the 100 degree summers are like 8 months out of the year and pipes freeze on a whim. Property Insurance is 3x the cost of their CA house they just left. Oh and you have to buy a toll pass in Texas to get anywhere on time and the highways and roads in TX are narrower than CA highways/roads. There are no sidewalks connecting the communities together because all the new development in Texas are in HOAs communities.
Yeah, 10 million residents moved to other states between 2010 and 2024 because we have it so good here…
Green pastures everywhere you look. Except for those brown patches of high cost of housing, high cost of living, high taxes, lack of well-paying jobs, not to mention congestion, crime, social issues, and natural disasters (wildfires, drought)…but we are really, really green. Just believe.
I doubt it. Someone is always there to buyout those multi-million dollar houses in CA. I can’t say the same for Texas housing. Prices are collapsing in Texas and Florida.
Believe me, if CA actual built housing quicker people would buy them.
Gasoline prices average $2.98 a gallon in Galveston, Texas, vs. $5.16 in Los Angeles.
Texas has narrower roads (and no sidewalks) and fewer emergency lanes. Texas also has essentially mandatory tolls to use highways which adds costs beyond the gas bill. Texas is number one in car accident fatalities in the nation…sounds like a wild west system…