B y Joe Armendariz/Guest Commentary

There have been a number of letters to the editor and guest commentaries critical of the Measure A ballot proposition that will serve to secure a dedicated revenue stream for local transportation improvement projects.

The Santa Barbara County Taxpayers Association has been serving our county for over 50 years as a government watchdog and advocate for the taxpayers.

As executive director of the Santa Barbara County Taxpayers Association, let me assure you that rarely does our board support tax measures — and rarer still is the occasion when our board supports a tax measure with nearly unanimous support. Such was the case with Measure A.

Measure A will renew a half-cent sales tax rate that has been on the books for nearly 20 years. It is not a new tax, and if approved by voters, the existing tax rate will not change.

Anybody who tries to tell you that Measure A represents a tax increase is not telling you the truth.

Measure A will create a dedicated funding stream to maintain and fix local roads, fund needed highway and freeway improvements and provide the money for alternative transportation, such as inter-regional bus service and other public-transit services.

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The money is under local control via your city council and a citizen’s oversight committee. Anybody who tells you different is not telling you the truth.

Measure A represents the opportunity for local taxpayers to have their monies matched by tourists and the federal and state government. It represents the rare opportunity for taxpayers to actually get something concrete in return for their investment, and when I say concrete, I mean that literally.

Maintaining and improving infrastructure is a never-ending job and it is very expensive. The cost of concrete, asphalt and other raw materials has skyrocketed in the past couple of years. Measure A will ensure that local governments keep pace with their infrastructure maintenance and improvement programs.

Some people ask why the gas taxes we pay are not sufficient to cover local road projects. The truth is, Measure A will help us qualify to get more of that revenue returned to the county where they can be invested in our regional infrastructure projects.

The electorate can be assured that North County’s elected leaders, along with the Taxpayers Association, Andy Caldwell from COLAB, and a representative from the Auto Club of Southern California, all worked tirelessly to ensure the best possible project list.

The money raised cannot be diverted, and it won’t be wasted.

The Santa Barbara County Taxpayers Association is looking out for you. Please support Measure A. You have our word on it that this measure represents the best use of taxpayer dollars that will pay dividends for decades to come.

Joe Armendariz is executive director of the Santa Barbara County Taxpayers Association, and represents Carpinteria on the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments.

October 26, 2008