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PROP. 42 from page 1.............................................. The event was organized by Californians to "Our state has the worst roads in the nation and Improve Traffic Now, a coalition of taxpayers, con- three of the country's five most congested urban struction, business, labor and local government areas," Fargo explained. 'This initiative will finally organizations including the League of California provide some stability and certainty for the state Cities. The group must gather approximately one funding we need to jump-start local transportation million signatures by early May to qualify an initiative projects." for the November 2006 ballot that will close a loop- hole in Prop. 42 that allows the Legislature and the Sacramento County Supervisor Roger Dickinson governor to shift Prop. 42 funds (the half-cent sales said that, according to the Sacramento Area Council tax on gasoline) from state and local transportation of Government's Master Plan for 2025, road mainte- projects to the general fund during times of state nance costs for Sacramento County are backlogged fiscal emergency. by $780 million. The plan estimates road mainte- nance needs over the next 20 years will cost approxi- League regional representatives are working with mately $3 billion. the coalition to help organize additional press confer- ences in the Bay Area, San Diego and Los Angeles. "Local governments in California depend on the funding generated from the existing sales taxes on Prop. 42 Loophole Thwarts Voters' Will gasoline to fix potholes, improve intersections and pave and improve streets and roads," Dickinson In two of the past three years, more than $2.5 said. "But cities and counties have lost hundreds of billion of Prop. 42 monies have been transferred to millions of dollars due to the shifts of Proposition 42 the state general fund, stalling or cancelling much- monies, and it's left our local roads and streets at a needed transportation improvement projects state- breaking point." wide. Also speaking at the "Just three years ago, conference were John Bonilla, nearly 70 percent of California business manager, Operating voters overwhelming passed Engineers Local Union #3, Prop. 42 - it was a clear and Allan Zaremberg, presi- mandate," said Jim Earp, dent, California Chamber of executive director, California Commerce. Zaremberg Alliance for Jobs, and chair, pointed out that transportation Californians to Improve Traffic projects such as the Harbor Now. "But the will of the voters Boulevard Interchange in is being denied ... our measure West Sacramento provide will prevent the Legislature and key examples of how a steady governor from using the Sacramento Mayor Heather Fargo speaking at press source of revenue will benefit existing sales taxes on gaso- conference to kick off signature gathering for Prop, 42 California. reform initiative, Also seen (left to right): Rocklin line for anything but state and Councilmember Kathy Lund, CA Chamber of local transportation and transit Commerce President Allan Zaremberg, John Bonilla, "When completed, this Operating Engineering Local Union #3 and Citrus needs." Heights Mayor Jeannie Bruins, Standing behind project will help provide for the Mayor Fargo are Rancho Cordova Mayor Ken Cooley free flow of goods to and from Sacramento Mayor and Lincoln Mayor Tom Cosgrove, the port, and will also create Heather Fargo, a League of California Cities board many good-paying local jobs," he said. member, commented that not only is her city strug- gling with transportation issues, but California as a "Enough is enough," Earp added. "It's time to whole, is one of the most traffic-congested areas in make good with the voters of California." (See "Ballot the United States. Measure Do's and Dont's for Public Officials", p.10.) PAGE 8 . PRIORITY FOCUS Visit the League's Official Websitenwww.cacities.org February 17, 2006 . Issue #7 mo.