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:
The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors is once again floating the idea of a $.01 sales tax increase in the unincorporated areas of the county. The county estimated that the tax could generate $5.5 million dollars annually for road repairs.
In a recent survey presented at a Board of Supervisors meeting, it was shared that over two-thirds of voters who responded said that they would support the sales tax measure to repair roads. Given the high cost of living, concerns over safeguards for Measure P funds, and the board’s low 31% approval rating, voters may hesitate to support any new tax measure or believe road funding would be secure.
I offer these suggestions:
- Guarantee the money is spent on road repairs.
- Make sure the money for roads is equally distributed throughout the five districts.
- Utilize the Municipal Advisory Council, Community Service District, and Community Advisory Council meetings for public input on which roads to prioritize.
It might be cheaper to pay the sales tax increase than to pay for the cost of new tires, realignment, or a new suspension. These suggestions could be a road to success. Visit my website for 5th District Supervisor,www.Vote4Evans.com.
Kevin Evans, Gualala
Yet again I ask , why not tax those who aren’t being taxed? This tax will disproportionately impact those that likely cannot even afford a car!
Unincorporated Mendocino:
Pop: 70K
Roads to Maintenance: 1015 miles
= 69 residences (rich and poor) supports 1 mile of road
City of Ukiah: (Measure Y)
Pop: 16500
Roads to Maintenance: 53 miles
= 311 residences (rich or poor) supports 1 mile of road
Sonoma County:
Pop: 485K
Roads to Maintenance: 1349 miles
= 360 residences (rich or poor) supports 1 mile of road
The BOS should also tax businesses licenses for higher volume use of roads based on gross receipts and reported sales volume. A parcel tax on distant properties should also be considered. The bigger issue still remains that too many locals living far away from the state and federal highways is going to leave many roads under developed and increasingly more deteriorated over time. Every house you see up in the hills / mtns cost the county disproportionately to keep a road running to it. (Black Bart trail, Potter valley, Albion Ridge Road, Goat Rock Rd, etc are costing the county massively given they produce little to no tax revenue). The County should consider creating HOAs for these sections of roads to reduce the exposure the county has to maintenance these roads.
Perhaps a more equitable tax would be a Private Improvement Tax allocated to all non county resident land owners?
This county has the finances of a small mid-sized company and the population of smallish city. It should be run as such. I am appalled that yet again, the taxes considered are disproportionately impacting the most vulnerable. Other options are available.
“Perhaps a more equitable tax would be a Private Improvement Tax allocated to all non county resident land owners?” – This may not be legal and it misses the point.
Properties that reside far away from the state and federal highways cost the county disproportionately more to maintain the roads. Whether they are owned by locals or non-locals. Which is why a parcel tax should be considered for distant parcel owners. Also businesses that generate more traffic should be paying more in business license fees to help maintenance the roads wear and tear.
Sales Tax works much better when the community is more densely closer together like in Ukiah or Willits inside cities. It’s not going to work in a rural setting. I agree that the sales tax increase across the entire county is going to politicize whose roads get fixed while others wait around for years. Distant landowners should be paying for their sections of roads along with businesses that generate lots of traffic. I also would recommend the County let cities annex their own regional spheres of influence so it takes some of the costs burdens off the county finances. Ukiah has way more resources and only needs to cover 53 miles of road.
There is always an ” administrative overhead” scalped from these taxes. I’m tired of giving money to this particular group.
Amen sister! Time to scrutinize the salaries of the administration, probably cut a million right there
I prefer “use taxes” to “sales taxes”, so put the sales tax only on motor vehicle fuel, at whatever rate needed to fund the building and maintenance of roads.
A NO vote on a proposed sales tax.
From the recent CA Auditor’s report of Mendocino County (https://www.auditor.ca.gov/reports/2025-049/)
From the report summary:
“Moreover, Mendocino’s procurement and financial reporting processes leave it vulnerable to waste, fraud, and abuse. We found insufficient documentation or justifications for nearly half of the 30 expenditures we reviewed and found some expenditures violated prohibitions on direct funding of religious organizations and gifts of public funds.”
or, even better, this one from page 9 of the report:
“The county estimated that as of December 2025 it needed to collect $30.6 million in taxes, penalties, interest, and fees related to properties in default status.”
Why vote for a tax to raise $5-6 million when there is $30.6 million in uncollected taxes?
Whatever happened to the Measure B tax for mental health?
Ever notice its the same people who cannot get the potholes fixed also want to save the world with their green new deal?