Agenda Item
R11 Discussion and Possible Action Including Adoption of an Ordinance Adding Chapter 5.160 to Title 5 of the Mendocino County Code, Imposing a One Percent (1.0%) County Transportation Transactions (Sales) and Use Special Tax in the Unincorporated Areas of the County, with Said Tax Being Used to Fund Pavement Preservation and Corrective Maintenance for County Roads and to Improve Road Maintenance Staffing
(Sponsor: Transportation)
eCOMMENT — AGENDA ITEM R11 ONLY
Board of Supervisors, Regular Meeting, Tuesday, July 21, 2026
(Final reading / adoption of the 1% road sales tax ordinance)
Paste the text below into the Legistar eComment box for Item R11.
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Honorable Board of Supervisors,
I am writing regarding Item R11, the final reading of the 1 percent road sales tax ordinance. I am not asking the Board to reject or advance the measure. I am asking that, before or as part of adoption, the ordinance carry clear fiscal safeguards so the public can verify the money is used as promised.
Specifically, I request three things be written into the ordinance itself rather than left to policy or practice: first, a dedicated-use restriction that limits the proceeds to road maintenance and repair and prohibits diversion to unrelated spending; second, mandatory annual public reporting of all revenue collected and expenditures made under this tax, in a format the average resident can read; and third, an independent oversight mechanism, such as a citizen oversight committee, empowered to review those reports each year.
A permanent special tax of this size deserves permanent accountability. Building these controls into the ordinance protects both the taxpayers and the Board.
Thank you for your consideration.
Anna Stockel