Guest Column: STA eyeing another sales tax. Why Sacramento County should reject it

By Sue Frost–
Living in Sacramento County, we all know how essential our roads are. Every day, whether we’re heading to work, dropping kids off at school, or running errands, we rely on our roads. With over 5,200 miles of roads used by nearly 85% of us, the importance of maintaining and improving our road infrastructure is clear. We also know that far too many of our roads are in a dangerous state of disrepair and critical improvements are bogged down in bureaucratic agendas.

Recently, the Sacramento Transportation Authority (STA) proposed forming a 7-member subcommittee to evaluate the need for another sales tax increase. However, most of the allocated funds are directed towards underused public transit and controversial environmental programs. I voted against this proposal because it does not meet the needs of most county residents, particularly those in rural areas like Rio Linda and Orangevale, and suburban communities like Citrus Heights, all of whom rely heavily on county roads.

We’ve seen similar tax proposals fail before, like Measure B in 2016, which didn’t address the real concerns of our community. Our roads rank among the worst in the nation, affecting us all every day.

There is an obvious need for serious improvements to our roads and highways. This isn’t just about patching up potholes but making big changes to cut down on traffic, make our drives safer, and improve our quality of life. We need to make sure that every dollar spent is watched over closely and used well.

In Citrus Heights, local leaders have announced plans for roadway improvements that will enhance safety and accessibility. This proactive approach by Citrus Heights exemplifies the kind of dedicated action needed across all jurisdictions to address our transportation issues comprehensively.

I’m not a knee-jerk opponent of all taxes. But I firmly believe in being transparent about how any new tax money would be used, ensuring there’s a clear end date for these taxes. We need to be careful and clear, demonstrating exactly what improvements will be funded and when the taxes will expire to avoid undue financial pressure on our taxpayers. Our residents want to see real, lasting results from their taxes, not more empty promises.

Our main goal should be to focus on actions that genuinely improve our roads. This is the practical and necessary choice for our community’s well-being.

Sacramento County Supervisor Sue Frost formerly served as a Citrus Heights councilwoman and currently represents District 4, which includes Citrus Heights.  She can be contacted at (916) 874-5491, or SupervisorFrost@saccounty.net.

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