Special 2006 Ballot Initiatives Report

Special 2006 Ballot Initiatives Report Voters across the United States determined the outcome of 30 state and local ballot

initiatives related to transportation funding during the November 7 elections. The approved measures would provide over $2.1 billion in additional annual funding once enacted. Of the 27 initiatives asking voters to increase revenue for transportation infrastructure, 22 measures were approved and five were defeated. Voters approved all five of the statewide initiatives for either protecting or increasing transportation revenue. On average, voters approved the winning measures by 66 percent.

In California, proposition 1B, a $19.9 billion bond issue for transportation improvements,

passed 61 to 39 percent. Voters also approved Proposition 1A, which prevents the diversion of the state sales tax on motor vehicle fuels from being used for non transportation purposes. This measure was approved 77 to 23 percent. Five counties in California approved sales tax extensions that would provide an estimated $18.7 billion in transportation funding for highways, bridges and transit over the next 20 to 30 years.

Rhode Island approved 75 to 25 percent a bond measure for up to $88.5 million to serve

as matching funds for additional federal transportation investment in the next two fiscal years. Sixty percent of New Jersey voters approved an increase in the portion of the existing

state gas tax that is dedicated to transportation. This will provide an estimated $78 million in additional annual funding. Minnesota voters also approved an amendment to the state constitution so that all of the sales tax from car and truck sales will be used for highway and transit investment. The measure, which passed 59 to 41 percent, will increase annual funding by as much as $300 million a year.

Local measures included eight initiatives to extend or renew an existing sales tax for

transportation purposes (all eight were approved), 12 new taxes for transportation (eight approved, four defeated) and two increases in existing sales or property taxes (both approved). The one local bond initiative, in Stafford, Virginia, was defeated. Spokane County, Washington had two advisory questions on transit funding. In both cases voters defeated the proposals.

State LocationType of Change

Mode How It Relates to Transportation Result % Yes % No

California Statewide Bond Highways & transit

Proposition 1B would provide a bond issue of up to $19.9 billion for the following: make safety improvements and repairs to state highways; upgrade freeways to reduce congestion; repair local streets and roads; upgrade highways along major transportation corridors; improves seismic safety of local bridges; expand public transit; help complete the state’s network of car pool lanes; reduce air pollution; improve anti-terrorism security at shipping ports; and appropriate money from the General Fund to pay off bonds.

Approved 61% 39%

California StatewideProtect Transportation Funding

Highways & transit

Proposition 1A asks voters to protect transportation funding for traffic congestion relief projects, safety improvements, and local streets and roads. The measure prohibits the state sales tax on motor vehicle fuels from being used for any purpose other than transportation improvements, and authorizes loan of these funds only in the case of severe state fiscal hardship and no more than twice in any 10-year period. Any loans of revenues from states sales tax on motor vehicle fuels would be fully repaid within the three years.

Approved 77% 23%

Minnesota Statewide

Increase transportation portion of existing tax

Highways & transit

Voters are being asked to amend the state constitution so that all of the sales tax from car and truck sales taxes would be used for highways (60%) and transit (40%). If it passes, the amendment would raise funding for roads and transit by $300 million a year - currently only 54 percent of the tax revenue goes to transportation.

Approved 57% 43%

New Jersey Statewide

Increase transportation portion of existing tax

Highways, bridges & transit

Public Question 3 asks voters to increase the fraction of gas tax used for transportation projects. Of the current 14.5 cent tax, 9 cents goes into a trust fund used to maintain and repair roads, highways, bridges and mass transit. Increasing that dedication to 10.5 cents would raise an additional $78 million annually for transportation.

Approved 60% 40%

Rhode Island Statewide Bond Highways & transit

If approved, Question 5 authorizes issuance of $88.5 million of bonds for transportation improvements. The bonds would enable the state to provide matching funds for an additional $394 million of federal transportation funds over the next two fiscal years.

Approved 75% 25%

State Transportation Measures on November 7, 2006 Ballots

Updated 11/8/2006Copyright 2006: American Road Transportation Builders Association



California Fresno County Tax Extension Transportation

Measure C, if approved, would provide approximately $1.7 billion over the next 20 years for transportation improvements. The current tax is scheduled to expire at the end of the year. The current distribution of Measure C is as follows - "Fresno County and its 15 cities invest 25% of Measure C funds in rural roads and local communities. Remaining funds are divided 70-30 between urban and rural programs administered at the regional level. Less than 1% of all Measure C funds are used for planning and administration."

Approved 77% 23%

California Kern County New Sales Tax Highways & transit

Measure I would raise the local sales tax one-half of one percent from 7.25 percent to 7.75 percent for local road improvements. Measure I is expected to raise about $1 billion over the next 20 years, and would be earmarked exclusively for new roads, road repairs and public transit improvements throughout the county.

Approved 56% 44%

California Orange CountySales Tax Renewal/ Extension

Highways & transit

This measure would authorize the Orange County Transportation Authority to construct specific transportation improvement and traffic congestion relief projects in Orange County by continuing the existing ½ of one percent retail transaction and use tax for thirty years from the expiration of the current Measure M on April 1, 2011. The current measure M allocates all sales tax revenues to specific Orange County transportation improvement projects in three major areas—freeways (43%) streets and roads (32%) and transit (25%). The measure would raise approximately $11.9 billion through 2041.

Approved 69% 35%

California San Joaquin County

Sales Tax Renewal/ Extension

Highways & transit

Voters will consider a renewal of Measure K, a half cent sales tax, which could generate $2.5 billion over 30 years. Specifically the measure would be used to widen/improve Routes I-5, I-205, 99, 12 and 120; expand ACE commuter rail and seniors/disabled transit services; fix potholes/resurfacing local roads; reduce high accident locations countywide; require citizens' oversight committee and annual audits to ensure all voter mandates are met.

Approved (2/3 approval

required)77% 23%

California Santa Barbara County

Sales Tax Renewal/ Extension and Increase

Highways & transit

Voters are being asked to approve a 30-year continuation of Measure D, the existing ½ percent local sales tax for transportation, and approve an increase of ¼ percent. The nearly $1.6 billion funding plan will widen 101, maintain local roads, provide safe routes to school, increase bus service and create a new commuter rail service connecting Santa Barbara and Ventura County.

Approved 54% 46%

California Sonoma & Marin Counties New Sales Tax Transit/Rail

Voters in the two counties will decide on Measure R, a quarter-cent sales tax that would help fund a commuter rail system between Cloverdale and Larkspur. The Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit, or SMART system, would be the first new commuter rail line established in the Bay Area since 1998. The system is expected to cost $340 million to build and $10 million to $12 million a year to operate and maintain.

Defeated (2/3 approval required in

both counties)

69% (Sonoma);

57% (Marin)

31% (Sonoma);

43% (Marin)

Local Transportation Measures on November 7, 2006 Ballots




Colorado Boulder County New Sales Tax Transit & trails

Voters are asked to approve a new, 0.2 percent county sales tax for spending on trails and transit. Ballot Issue 1A would generate $8.1 million a year. The money would complete the county's planned regional-trails network and add a slate of bus, specialized transit and other services and programs recommended in the county's Transit Enhancement Plan.

Approved 92% 8%

Florida Broward County New Sales Tax Transit

Broward County voters will decide in November whether they want to pay an extra penny in sales tax for the next 30 years to support a new commuter train system and an improved bus network. If approved, the one-cent sales tax increase would raise about $260 million a year. About 10 percent -- $26 million -- would go to Broward cities for transportation projects.

Defeated 39% 61%

Louisiana Beauregard Parish


Highways & roads

Summary: 10 Year, 1% sales and use tax renewal with the proceeds to be deposited in the parishwide road fund and dedicated and used for the purposes of constructing, improving, operating and maintaining roads and bridges within the district and acquiring the necessary equipment therefore, and allocated and expended for such purposes in accordance with the following percentages: 35% to parishwide work crews; 35% for equipment and equipment repairs; 30% to acquire materials and supplies to be divided equally by the eight wards, and subject to funding into bonds

Approved 62% 38%

Louisiana City of Lafayette New Sales Tax and Bond

Highways & roads

Summary: Authority for the city of Lafayette to levy a 1% sales and use tax for (A) purchasing, constructing, acquiring, extending, improving, equipping and furnishing streets, bridges, traffic and drainage public works or capital improvement for said city and (B) paying the operation and maintenance expenses of said city; provided, however, not less than eighty percent (80%) must be appropriated and expended for the purposes of purchasing, constructing, acquiring, extending, improving, equipping and furnishing streets, bridges, traffic and drainage public works or capital improvements for said city, and further for said tax to be funded into bonds

Defeated 36% 64%

LouisianaEvangaline Parish (District 4)


Highways & roads

Summary: 10 Year, 15 mill property tax renewal for constructing and improving parish roads and highways within the district, or for the maintenance thereof. Shall Road District No. 4 of the Parish of Evangeline, State of Louisiana (the "District") levy a fifteen (15) mills tax on all the property subject to taxation in the District for a period of ten (10) years beginning with the year 2007 and ending with the year 2016, for the purpose of constructing and improving Parish roads and highways within the District, or for the maintenance thereof?

Approved 65% 35%

LouisianaEvangaline Parish (District 5)


Highways & roads

Summary: 10 year, 10 mill property tax renewal for constructing and improving parish roads and highways within the district or for the maintenance thereof. Shall Road District No. 5 of the Parish of Evangeline, State of Louisiana (the "District") levy a ten (10) mills tax on all the property subject to taxation in the District for a period of ten (10) years beginning with the year 2007 and ending with the year 2016, for the purpose of constructing and improving Parish roads and highways within the District, or for the maintenance thereof?

Approved 65% 35%

Louisiana Jefferson Davis Parish New Sales Tax Highways &

roads

Summary: 2% sales and use tax for 20 years for constructing, improving, maintaining and resurfacing parish roads within the district (but specifically excluding employees’ salaries, wages and benefits), and the payment of any bonded or funded indebtedness of the district incurred for such purposes.

Approved 60% 40%

Local Transportation Measures on November 7, 2006 Ballots (cont.)




Louisiana Lasalle Parish New Sales Tax Highways & roads

Summary: 1% sales and use tax of the parish of LaSalle to be dedicated and used as follows: 34% to the LaSalle Parish Police Jury for the purpose of constructing, improving, maintaining and resurfacing public roads and bridges in said parish, including incidental drainage, and acquiring, operating and maintaining equipment for such purposes; 34% to the LaSalle Parish Sheriff’s Office for general operations; 12% to the town of Jena for general operations; 7% to the town of Olla for general operations; 5% to each of the towns of Urania and Tullos for general operations; and 3% to the LaSalle Economic Development District for general operations; with the proceeds of the tax to be subject to funding into bonds for said capital purposes

Defeated 47% 53%

Louisiana Terrebonne Parish


Highways & roads

Summary: Authority to continue to levy a 10 year .82 Mill property tax for the purpose of acquiring, building, improving or maintaining public roads or highways in said district. Approved 74% 26%

Michigan Holland City New Sales Tax TransitVoters are being asked to approve a .4-mil tax that would provide approximately $973,000 annual for five years for the MAX Transportation Authority, which oversees transit and bus operations in the city.

Approved 61% 39%

Missouri Kansas CitySales Tax Renewal/ Extension

TransitIn Question 2 voters are being asked to extend the current three-eighths (3/8) cent transportation sales tax for 25 years to fund specific transit projects in the area, including a tram project and light rail.

Approved 53% 47%

Ohio Franklin County New Sales Tax Transit Issue 7 will ask voters to approve a 0.25 percent sales and use tax for the Central Ohio Transit Authority. Approved 51% 49%

Texas Grapevine New Sales Tax Transit

Grapevine has placed a sales tax hike referendum on the ballot that would go for law enforcement and a commuter rail line. If approved, 1 cent would be added to the city's 7.25-cent sales tax. Money from the proposition would fund a Crime Control and Prevention District. It would also pay for a commuter rail line that would run along the Cotton Belt rail line.

Approved 73% 27%

Utah Salt Lake County

Sales Tax Increase Transit

If the county's voters approve, the vote will raise sales taxes by a quarter-cent. The portion of the tax dedicated to transit would increase to three-quarters of a cent. A portion of the increase will be dedicated to linking Utah County commuter rail with the rest of the Wasatch Front.

Approved 64% 32%

Utah Utah County New Sales Tax Highways & transit

Voters are asked to impose a sales and use tax of .25% for highways, fixed guideways, and public transit. A total of 87 percent of the new tax would be for project or service costs related to a fixed guideway commuter rail system.

Approved 69% 31%

Virginia Stafford Bond Highways Voters are asked to approve a bond issue for the county to undertake a series of highway projects. The bond would be no more than $161.2 million. Defeated 40% 60%

Washington King County New Sales Tax TransitOrdinance 2006-0285 asks voters to approve a one-tenth of one percent sales tax measure to fund bus service. The tax would raise approximately $50 million annually for the King County transit system.

Approved 54% 46%

Washington Spokane County Advisory question Transit

Should Spokane Transit Authority identify local taxing alternatives and develop a financing plan to bring forward to the voters for approval in 2007 to fund a $263,000,000 light rail project, in 2006 dollars, to run from Spokane City, through the City of Spokane Valley to the City of Liberty Lake?

Defeated 44% 56%

Washington Spokane County Advisory question Transit

Should Spokane Transit Authority use existing resources to fund preliminary engineering/design and environmental analysis for a future light rail project to run from Spokane City, through the City of Spokane Valley, to the City of Liberty Lake?

Defeated 46% 54%

Local Transportation Measures on November 7, 2006 Ballots (cont.)


Special 2006 Ballot Initiatives Report

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