Memorandum
Date: May 6, 2025
To: The Honorable Eddie Crandell, Chair, Lake County Board of Supervisors
From: Helen Owen, District 1 Supervisor
Subject: Consideration of Use of Staff Time in Excess of 8 Hours to Research the Feasibility of a Dedicated Special Tax for County Roads
Executive Summary:
Improving the County’s infrastructure, including our road network, is among the highest priorities of our Board, and included in our Vision 2028 Statement. In an April 2023 report, NCE recommended a ten-year Pavement Management Program, with a minimum recommended scenario ($165 million over 10 years) that could raise the overall Pavement Condition Index from 34 (considered “Poor” condition) to 50, while increasing the portion of the network in “Good condition,” and decreasing the need of deferred maintenance. Unfortunately, even this plan was (and remains) well beyond the capacity of the County to independently fund.
<https://www.lakeapc.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2022-PMP-Final-Report-Lake-County.pdf>
I understand Public Works staff are hard at work seeking Federal and State Grant Funding sources and have recently added to their grant writing and management capacity. There is also uncertainty surrounding some of those outside funding sources and the broader economy.
A Special Tax to support improvements to County roadways could be an additional means of raising funds for what are very immediate needs in our County. Additionally, SB 1, California’s “The Road Repair and Accountability Act,” includes a “Local Partnership Program” (LPP) that offers matching funds to jurisdictions with voter-approved dedicated transportation, “taxes, tolls, or fees,” in place. 60% of statewide LPP allocations are formulaic, and 40% are competitive. A voter-approved dedicated transportation tax would make the County eligible for the State Local Partnership Competitive Grant Program, which is allotted $72 million annually:
<https://catc.ca.gov/programs/sb1/local-partnership-program>
There are areas of each of our Districts that are in serious need of road repairs, and that requires a significant investment. However, any request that our residents pay additional taxes is a very serious matter and requires strong support. Therefore, I am asking that our Board approve use of staff time in excess of 8 hours for initial research on the feasibility of a dedicated Special Tax for County Road improvements. Research is needed to understand whether this is an opportunity to raise funding at this time.
If not budgeted, fill in the blanks below only:
Estimated Cost: ________ Amount Budgeted: ________ Additional Requested: ________ Future Annual Cost: ________
Purchasing Considerations (check all that apply): ☒ Not applicable
☐ Fully Article X. <https://library.municode.com/ca/lake_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH2AD_ARTXPU_S2-38EXCOBI>- and/or Consultant Selection Policy <http://lcnet.co.lake.ca.us/Assets/Intranet/Policy/Policies+$!26+Procedures+Manual/Ch4_2021v2.pdf>-Compliant (describe process undertaken in “Executive Summary”)
☐ Section 2-38 <https://library.municode.com/ca/lake_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH2AD_ARTXPU_S2-38EXCOBI> Exemption from Competitive Bidding (rationale in “Executive Summary,” attach documentation, as needed)
☐ For Technology Purchases: Vetted and Supported by the Technology Governance Committee <http://lcnet.co.lake.ca.us/Assets/Intranet/Intranet+Forms/Information+Technology/AdvPlan.pdf> (“Yes,” if checked)
☐ Other (Please describe in Executive Summary)
Consistency with Vision 2028 <http://www.lakecountyca.gov/Government/Directory/Administration/Visioning/Vision2028.htm> (check all that apply): ☐ Not applicable
☒ Well-being of Residents ☒ Public Safety ☒ Disaster Prevention, Preparedness, Recovery
☐ Economic Development ☒ Infrastructure ☐ County Workforce
☒ Community Collaboration ☐ Business Process Efficiency ☐ Clear Lake
Recommended Action: Approve use of greater than 8 hours of staff time to research the feasibility of a Special Tax for County Roads.