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Tag: Proposition 6

  • Here’s where the Citrus Heights council candidates stand on Prop 6, road funding

    Here’s where the Citrus Heights council candidates stand on Prop 6, road funding

    Tareyton Way, Citrus Heights
    Pavement on a portion of Tareyton Way in Citrus Heights, where repaving work is slated to be done in 2018. // CH Sentinel

    Sentinel staff report–
    When it comes to the best way to fund local road repairs and transportation projects, the five candidates running for Citrus Heights City Council don’t all agree — and neither do voters.

    The Sentinel recently sent out a questionnaire to each candidate, asking whether they support or oppose Proposition 6, the ballot effort seeking to repeal a recent gas tax and registration fee increase. The controversial tax and fee increase, known as Senate Bill 1 or SB 1, was approved by the state legislature last year to help fund public transit and road improvement projects across California, promising to raise about $52 billion over 10 years.

    Last month, the City Council approved the first SB 1-funded residential repaving project in Citrus Height, with a total of $523,000 coming from the new gas tax. The project will pave portions of six streets, totaling 1.3 miles of the City’s approximately 465 miles of paved lanes. The City is slated to receive about $1.4 million annually in “direct allocation” funding from SB 1, along with additional funding in the form of SB 1-funded grants for specific projects.

    From Sept: Citrus Heights council approves first 6 streets to be repaved with SB 1 funds

    So where do the candidates stand on Prop 6? All candidates were asked to answer the following question and were invited to reply with a written statement of 100 words or less. Their answers are included below:

    “Proposition 6 seeks to repeal SB 1, which increased gas taxes and vehicle licensing fees to help cover transportation-related projects. How will you vote on Prop 6 and what option(s) for road maintenance in Citrus Heights will you advocate for if SB 1 funding goes away?”

    Porsche Middleton: “I will vote no on the repealing of SB 1. This is an opportunity for Citrus Heights to catch up on years of unfunded maintenance needs that have plagued residents for years. Without this funding the city will be forced to continue repairs on our aging infrastructure in the same manner, repairing the worst areas and waiting until we receive our property taxes in a few years to begin repairs on what is left.”

    Jeannie Bruins: “I support Proposition 6 because the gas tax increase should have gone to the voters according to existing law, not be imposed on us by the legislature. The hard part for me is knowing that our city is already benefiting from this tax increase because we have received revenues that are funding street improvements right now. Another hard part is knowing that billions of dollars are being wasted on things such as high speed rail rather than funding local transportation needs, as it was meant to. We need state legislators who will put that money back into the local community.”

    Al Fox: “SB 1 gas tax income has benefited our city and allowed us to continue with road improvement efforts. However, I do not support SB 1 as implemented by the legislature and governor. The fuel tax increases have negatively impacted California low income families and seniors. California tax and spend mentality has overspent previous gas tax monies, moved funds to non-transportation items and refused to return the funds to transportation. I support the more moderate legislators who are seeking to reverse the negative impact of prior legislation and re-allocate existing road tax revenues to local jurisdictions.”

    Treston Shull: “I am proud to have earned the endorsement of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association because they know I will stand up for taxpayers in Citrus Heights. We need to focus on local solutions to fix our roads.”

    Steve Miller: “I do not like the tax and how it was enacted by the State. The governor promised us a vote on any new taxes. Well, now we get to vote. The City Council, of which I am a member, has not taken a position on Proposition 6. I have noted if the new gas tax (SB 1) is repealed, it will be a loss of approximately $1.4 million per year to the City that could be used for residential road maintenance… If repealed, I will advocate for additional road maintenance funds once we receive our property taxes in 2022.”

    *To learn where all the candidates running for Citrus Heights City Council stand on nine local issues, see article: See where Citrus Heights City Council candidates stand on local issues.

    Related: Guest Opinion: Residents should accept responsibility for funding road repair

  • Citrus Heights News Briefs: dead body, gas tax, guns, fire

    Citrus Heights News Briefs: dead body, gas tax, guns, fire

    Sue Frost
    Supervisor Sue Frost speaks in support of Proposition 6, which would repeal the recent gas tax increase, during a Sept. 13 Sacramento Transit Authority meeting.

    Latest news briefs in Citrus Heights include a dead body being found inside a Citrus Heights home on Thursday, flames engulfing a garage on the outskirts of town, a local gun shop winning a lawsuit against the state, and Supervisor Sue Frost taking some heat for her position against the “gas tax” during a regional transportation board meeting.

    Dead body found inside Citrus Heights home
    Police responding to a home on Glen Creek Way Thursday afternoon found a woman’s body inside the residence, CBS-Sacramento reported. An elderly man was also found alive inside. The home is listed on a state database as a licensed care home facility for up to six people, primarily for those with Alzheimer’s over age 60. According to the news report, police did not believe foul play was involved.

    CBS also reported neighbors were “rattled” about the news, as the home is located near where suspected serial killer Joseph DeAngelo lived on Canyon Oak Drive. “Bad luck, you know DeAngelo lived right down the street,” one neighbor was quoted telling the news station. As of Saturday, the deceased woman’s identity has not been released by the Sacramento County Coroner’s Office. (See CBS video)

    Citrus Heights gun shop wins lawsuit against state
    Sacramento Black Rifle, located on Greenback Lane in Citrus Heights, was handed a victory by a U.S. District Judge on Tuesday. The gun shop, along with another firearms dealer in Tracy, sued the state four years ago after both argued they should be allowed to advertise the sale of handguns on their storefronts, a practice banned by California law for nearly the past century.

    According to story in the Sacramento Bee on Wednesday, state lawyers argued the law was needed to “stop impulsive individuals from purchasing a handgun and using it in a suicide or crime.” But Judge Troy L. Nunley found the law violates gun shops’ First Amendment rights. Sacramento Black Rifle store manager Nate Woodward told The Bee the lawsuit victory was “really big,” and a win for free speech. The ruling could be appealed by the California Attorney General’s Office. (See SacBee story)

    Frost sole vote opposing gas tax on Transit Authority board
    Sacramento County Supervisor Sue Frost, who is a Citrus Heights resident and former mayor of the city, took to Facebook on Wednesday calling out a vote of the Sacramento Transit Authority to officially oppose Proposition 6, which would repeal the controversial $52 billion “gas tax,” also known as SB 1. Frost was the sole “no” vote out of 10 representatives present for the Board’s Sept. 13 meeting, and said many of her fellow board members were “upset” with her vote. Six members were absent, including Citrus Heights Councilman Al Fox, and his alternate, Jeff Slowey. The Transit Authority Board is made up of representatives from the Board of Supervisors and other elected officials from cities in the region.

    Frost said 83% of her constituents were opposed to the new gas tax, citing a Facebook poll she conducted where 315 people responded. She also said roads could be repaired by abandoning plans for California’s high speed rail project, which is estimated to approach nearly $100 billion, and instead prioritize the funds to go towards road repair instead. The Transit Authorities’ resolution in favor of keeping the gas tax argues that Proposition 6 would “take away approximately $50 million annually that is dedicated to the County of Sacramento and the incorporated Cities within Sacramento County for street and road repairs, road reconstruction, and street maintenance.” (See resolution here, and see Frost’s full comments here)

    Fire takes out detached garage in Citrus Heights
    A structure fire on the outskirts of town off Twin Oaks Avenue ripped through a detached garage Monday morning. Video posted on social media by Metro Fire showed the garage still smouldering, with a gaping hole observable on the roof. Fire crews reported knock down of the blaze around 6:30 a.m. on Sept. 10 and said no additional structures had been threatened by the fire.

    According to a news report from KCRA, the fire resulted in a complete loss to the garage, but no injuries were reported.  The cause of fire was under investigation as of Monday, and no further updates were released by fire officials. (See video)

    More briefly:

    • Cleanup. On Sept. 8, the City of Citrus Heights posted a video slideshow of volunteers cleaning up a poorly maintained residential property. (See video)
    • Disbarring. The State Bar is recommending a Citrus Heights attorney be disbarred over an alleged ethics violation, according to the NorCal Record. (See story)