CC 2016-06-28_11a SLOCOG PPSelf-Help County Efforts:
San Luis Obispo County Self-Help Local Transportation Investment Plan
June, 2016
San Luis Obispo Council of Governments
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CONCERNS
(2013 price-based gas tax) 21c > 18c >12c > less than 10c
Again, SLOCOG’s (highway) funds come from the State gas tax.
The CONSUMPTION (number of gallons) multiplied by the TAX (cents per gallon) results in the total fuel tax collected.
With more and more fuel efficient cars on the road, the total gallons consumed peaked in 2004/5 and has been decreasing ever since.
The Federal gas tax is fixed at 18.4c per gallon (included in the images above).
The State gas tax is now adjusted every July 1. In 2012 it was 36c, growing to 39.5c in 2013, and then twice declining in 2014 and 2015 to 36c and 30c, and on 7/1/16 drops below 28c.
Lastly, the State gas tax supports a lot more programs (and higher priority programs) than just SLOCOG (including local Street, Road, and Highway safety, maintenance and rehabilitation.
One of the newest and biggest bites, it is used to payback the Transportation Bond debt from 2006 (~1B/year) about 7c of every gallon.
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State & Federal funds
Funding is deteriorating
Sacramento has further cut funding– despite lobbying efforts by cities and counties throughout the State.
Increasing shift to grant funding requiring matching funds.
Legislative solutions under consideration: (Prognosis= Poor)
Most recent cut/delay of 1.5B statewide…w/ $114M hit to our region.
Leg: $3M/year at best, fix it first. Vs 101 Ops!
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Self Help Counties
20 counties (84% of CA population) are known as Self Help Counties
15 counties, investigating to be Self Help
Self-Help Counties invest $4.5B in funding for transportation projects – compared to $1B in State highway improvement funds
(in a good year)
Self-Help is a term used to describe counties that have passed regional sales tax measures to support transportation funding. 20 counties have already passed local transportation-specific
measures (raising over $4.5B/year). These measures require 2/3rd voter approval, an expenditure plan, and typically include voter safeguards (sunset date, oversight committee). Sales
tax dollars are invested in accordance with the approved voter expenditure plan. They typically include: highways, road maintenance, transit, bike, ped, and environmental mitigation.
Not only do Self-Help counties have a significant additional source of funding, but they also are at an advantage to win increasingly competitive State and Federal grant funds.
SLOCOG is investigating the option and support for becoming a Self Help county, along with 14 others.
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Meetings with staff at each jurisdiction.
Conducted over 75+ presentations attended by more than 700+ people
Community Groups
Chambers of Commerce
Community Advisory Councils
Public Opinion Poll and Focus Groups
Outreach effort
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9-Year Investment Plan
½ cent sales tax for transportation
50% as Local Control
Conceptual approvals (April & May):
All 7 cities
Board of Supervisors
SLOCOG (with modifications)
Draft Plan proposed in April/May
Data Collection Telephone and Internet Interviewing
Universe 119,145 likely November 2016 voters in San Luis Obispo County
Fielding Dates March 11 through March 20, 2016
Interview Length 19 minutes
Sample Size 687 (online: 293; phone: 394)
Margin of Error ± 3.73%
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Continued outreach, common themes:
Equity concerns raised, and addressed….
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What has changed
Bike/Ped: Decreased from 15% to 10%
Local Control: Increased from 50% to 55%
Removed 10% requirement for Community Enhancements
Independent Taxpayer Oversight Committee
High threshold for all Amendments
Strengthened Maintenance of Effort Provision
What has changed
Too much for bikes given all needs around county….bike advocates support change.
Bike/Ped: Decrease 15% to 10%
Local Control: Increase 50% to 55% - contains 4% for SRTS;
4% SRTS
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What has changed
The plan: local control Arroyo Grande
$950k/year = Total $8.5M over 9 years
Street maintenance and repair
Congestion relief and operational improvements to:
E. Branch/E. Grand
Halcyon Corridor
Operational and bike/pedestrian safety improvements at:
E. Branch/Crown Hill/Huasna
Page 7 of the Plan = City projects,
Page 8 = County Community projects
CIP for other Local transportation priorities.
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What has changed
The plan: highways & major roadways
$20M South County: Highway 101 Congestion Relief and Interchange Improvements
$17.5M Central County:
SR 227: Congestion Relief ($8M)
Southern San Luis Obispo City: Traffic Operation Improvements ($9.5M)
$17.5M North County: Highways 101 and 46E Congestion Relief projects (TBD)
$1M North Coast: Highway 1 Improvement (41/1/Main)
Matching $$$.
These funds would provide Benefits including: Safety, congestion relief, improved traffic flow, connectivity, goods movements, improved access, and economic benefits.
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What has changed
The plan: Bike & Pedestrians
$5.6M South County: Highway 1 Bike/Ped improvements (Pismo to Oceano), Coastal Trail Boardwalk extension
$5.6M Central County: Bob Jones Trail
$5.6M North County: Atascadero/Templeton Connector, Main St. improvements, Theater Drive improvements, SR 41 improvements (101 to San Gabriel Road)
$5.6M North Coast: Coastal Trail (Morro Bay to Cayucos)
Benefits including: Safer connections, enhances property values, provides healthy choices, creates economic benefits from associated retail, tourism and competitive events.
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What has changed
The plan: public transportation
6% Fixed Route (System Preservation, Increased Services and Capital)
3% Mobility Improvements for Seniors, Veterans, Persons with Disabilities
1% Transportation Demand Management
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What has changed
safeguards
Sunset Date
Protected from State Raids (Prop 22)
Annual Independent Audits and Reports
55% of Funds Controlled by Local Jurisdictions
Development Pays Fair Share
1% Administrative Expense Cap
Maintenance of Effort
Independent Taxpayer Oversight Committee
Page 15 of the Investment plan
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What has changed
Ballot measure materials
What do voters see?
Ordinance
Attachment A: Transportation Investment Plan
Attachment B: Independent Taxpayer Oversight Committee
Attachment C: Plan Administration and Implementing Guidelines
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What has changed
Self help for slo county
Generates $25 million dollars per year to fix our roads and improve transportation
Over 50% paid by visitors
Delivers a Transportation Investment Plan with a list of projects and programs
Restricted to local projects and transportation priorities
Improves competitiveness to leverage additional State and Federal grants thereby increasing revenues
Allows local government to expedite project delivery times.
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What has changed
Schedule & Requirements
BACK TO JURISDICTIONS JUNE/JULY: Requires Plan Approvals from a majority of cities w/ majority of the incorporated population AND Board of Supervisors.
June 7: Pismo Beach (approved)
June 14: Morro Bay (approved)
June 20: Grover Beach (approved)
June 21: Paso Robles (approved)
June 21: San Luis Obispo (approved)
June 28: Arroyo Grande
June 28: Atascadero
July 12: San Luis Obispo County
July 13: SLOCOG Board Adopt Plan, Ordinance, and Calls for Election
July 19: County Board places on Nov. 2016 Ballot. Voters Decide.
Our choice is to either become self-reliant and address our growing transportation needs or we suffer as we hope the State fixes the problem.
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The City Council voted 4-1 for conceptual approval on April 26, 2016
Opportunity for regional funding of transportation projects and important revenues for local projects including street maintenance and repair for the City’s 68 roadway miles, congestion
relief and operational improvements at key intersections.
although the City continues to invest in the street system to keep a good pavement condition rating, our rating is projected to decrease as more street projects must be deferred due
to funding shortfalls.
Self-Help County status would also allow projects to be more competitive in that revenues can be used to leverage other grant program funds.
CITY OF ARROYO GRANDE
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RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended the Council adopt a Resolution approving the 2016 San Luis Obispo County Self-Help Local Transportation Investment Plan and recommendation to the San Luis Obispo County
Board of Supervisors to place a 9-year transportation half-cent sales tax on the November 8, 2016 General Election Ballot.
City of Arroyo Grande
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Section 18. Maintenance of Effort (Page 28)
State Controller’s Reports
3 year average annual of General Fund for Street Purposes
Excludes non-discretionary and one-time funds
Option to petition SLOCOG Board for exception
3-year window
Verification through certification and audits
Penalty: Loss of Local Control funds, 10% penalty
June 1, 2016 – Agenda Item A-1
Ordinance (Attachment D)
Escalation-none
Authorizing Legislation: Augment, not supplant.
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