The Sonoma County Vehicle Registration Fee Expenditure Plan (Expenditure Plan) will guide the annual expenditures of the funds generated by a $10 per year vehicle registration fee (Fee), if approved by voters in the November 2010 election. Sonoma County has very significant unfunded transportation needs, and this Fee would provide funding to meet some of those needs. It is expected that this Fee will generate approximately $5 million per year.
The goal of this Expenditure Plan is to support transportation investments in a way that sustains the County’s transportation network and reduces traffic congestion and vehicle-related pollution. The Fee would be a key part of an overall strategy to develop a balanced, well thought-out program that improves transportation and transit for County residents. The Fee will fund programs that:
The Expenditure Plan would have the following specific elements:
The opportunity for a countywide transportation agency to place this Fee before the voters was authorized last year by the passage of Senate Bill 83, authored by Senator Loni Hancock (Oakland). The Sonoma County Transportation Authority (Authority) proposes to place a transportation measure on the November 2, 2010 ballot to enact a $10 vehicle registration fee that would be used for local transportation and transit improvements throughout Sonoma County. A majority vote of the electorate is required to enact this Fee. The statute requires that the Fee collected be used only to pay for programs and projects that bear a relationship or benefit to the owners of motor vehicles paying the Fee and be consistent with a regional transportation plan. The Fee will be imposed on each annual motor-vehicle registration or renewal of registration in Sonoma County occurring on or after six-months following the November 2, 2010 election, where the measure was approved by the voters, for an unlimited period, unless otherwise terminated by the voters of Sonoma County. To implement this Fee, the statute requires the governing board of the Authority to adopt an Expenditure Plan. The statute also requires the ballot measure resolution be approved by majority vote of the Authority members at a noticed public hearing.
The Expenditure Plan identifies three types of programs that will receive funds generated by the Fee. Below are descriptions of each program and the percentage in parentheses of the annual revenue that will be allocated to each program after deducting for the Authority’s administrative costs. The Authority will program funds to specific projects within the three categories every three years on a competitive basis, countywide, unless stipulated otherwise in the Expenditure Plan. This effort will seek geographic equity over successive five year cycles. The first programming process will begin upon approval of ballot measure and conclude by July 1, 2011.
Pothole Repair, Complete Streets and New Technologies (23%)
This program would provide funding to improve, maintain and rehabilitate local roads, bikeways and traffic signals. It also would incorporate the “complete streets” practice that makes local roads safe for all modes, including bicyclists and pedestrians, and accommodates transit. This program would also improve the performance of road, transit, pedestrian and bicyclist technology applications, and would accommodate emerging vehicle technologies such as electric and plug-in-hybrid vehicles. Projects eligible could include:
Safe Routes to School Program (12%)
This program would seek to reduce congestion through bicycle and pedestrian safety programs for teens and children; carpool programs at schools throughout Sonoma County and other related programs or projects that reduce trips to schools and promote transportation safety. Projects eligible could include:
Transit for Congestion Relief Program (60%)
This program would seek to make it easier for drivers to use public transportation, make the existing transit system more efficient and effective, and aid in mobility for critical populations such as students and seniors. The goal of this program is to decrease automobile usage and thereby reduce both localized and area-wide congestion and air pollution. Each Sonoma County based bus operator will receive its population share of funding on an annual basis and can use those funds on eligible projects such as:
The Authority will provide annual financial projections for budgeting purposes and will adopt an Annual Budget each fiscal year that will include projected Fee revenue, other anticipated funds and planned expenditures for programs and administration.
The Authority will draft an Annual Report, which will be made available to the public and will include the following:
Before adopting the Annual Report, the Authority will hold a public meeting and will address public comments in the Annual Report.
