Editor’s note: The following is a letter to the editor. The opinions expressed in this letter are those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect those of The Mendocino Voice. If you would like to submit a letter to the editor feel free to write to info@mendovoice.com.
Dear Editor:
Mendocino County’s roads are deteriorating, and residents know repairs cannot wait. A proposed one-cent sales tax in unincorporated areas could provide much-needed funding, but before voters are asked to pay more, they urgently need binding guarantees that every road-repair dollar will be spent as promised.
A road tax would be paid not only by local residents but also shared by visitors to the county. Given the high cost of vehicle repairs caused by poor road conditions — including alignments, tires, and suspension damage — a modest sales tax may be a reasonable investment.
Public support exists, but it should not be taken for granted. With living costs rising and lingering concerns about oversight of past measures, voters have every right to demand accountability. Before approving a new tax, residents deserve clear answers:
- How much sales tax revenue is generated in each district annually?
- How much road funding is spent annually in each district?
- How much has been invested directly in coastal and Anderson Valley roads?
Communities deserve a fair return on the taxes they already pay. Long-neglected roads, broadband infrastructure and emergency services all compete for limited resources. The county should prove how every district will benefit fairly and transparently.
To earn public trust, the board should guarantee a specific tax dedicated to road repairs, equitable distribution of funds, local input provided by the MACs, CSDs, and town councils. For example, Iversen, Stagecoach, and Ten-Mile Cutoff on the South Coast, Little River Airport Road, Rays Road in Philo and East Side Potter Valley Road need a higher priority.
Road repairs are urgently needed, but so is accountability. Without enforceable guarantees, voters should be skeptical. With transparency, fairness and local control, this measure can earn the public’s support and finally deliver the safe, reliable roads our communities deserve.
Kevin Evans
Anchor Bay
Great letter. There is a couple more question to be asked;
Can the county and mendocino council of Governments prove they have exhausted every path for funding before raising taxes?
Has our state representatives, Assemblyman Rogers and State Senator McGuire, been made aware of our degraded roads? And are they willing to do something about it?