The California Legislature’s pending decision to take cities’ and counties’ gas tax money statewide would have a “devastating impact” on the Santa Barbara County Public Works Department, according to department director Scott McGolpin.
On June 23, McGolpin presented his findings before the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors.
The state, he said, is proposing to take all of counties’ and cities’ gas tax in 2009-10, and approximately 75 percent in 2010-11. The total adds up to about $11 million in Santa Barbara County. The money is equivalent to 38 positions in the Public Works Department, McGolpin told the Sun after the Board of Supervisors meeting. When funds for the county’s eight cities are added in, the figure increases to $21 million.
“That’s 30 percent of transportation’s operating budget,” McGolpin said. “[That money] is vital … it’s our lifeblood.”
Much of the transportation money goes toward county road maintenance and support services, such as sign posting and striping. It also funds crews deployed to set up detours and other road systems during wildfires and other disasters.
“If this money goes away for two years, it will be devastating,” McGolpin said.
If the money is taken away permanently, he said, it will “kill the local road system.”
Currently, the California League of Cities and the California State Association of Counties are challenging the constitutionality of the state’s ability to take counties’ and cities’ gas tax funds.
Still, McGolpin said the Legislature could pass down its decision within the week.
This article appears in Jun 25 – Jul 2, 2009.
