City, mayor react to Prop 411 defeat
Group ‘Fix Our Roads’ not sure of next step
With the apparent defeat of Proposition 411, Yuma officials will now have to do “the best we can with available funds,” according to a statement released by the city.
The citizens initiative asked Yuma voters to decide whether they want to pay an additional half-cent sales tax to fix city roads. The levy would have raised about $10 million annually, enough to fix 20 miles of city roads per year.
Unofficial results Wednesday evening, with 94 percent of precincts reporting, indicated 47.92 percent, or 9,137, voted “yes,” and 52.08 percent, or 9,931, voted “no.”
A “yes” vote supported increasing the city’s sales tax by onehalf of 1 percent effective Jan. 19 “solely for the purpose of fixing potholes, improving existing roads and replacing asphalt.”
A “no” vote supported leaving the current tax rate.
“The City had hoped for 411’s passage, particularly since it came from citizens. The City of Yuma is going to do the best we can with available funds, but at this point it looks like we will have to begin making difficult decisions as to which roadways we will continue to maintain, and which ones to let go. There is not enough money to maintain them all. This course was not our preference,” the statement said.
Mayor Doug Nicholls expressed disappointment as well: “I’m disappointed the voters chose not to fund roadway maintenance through a specific shortterm tax. But I respect the will of the people. We will look for other tools and methods to provide maintenance to our aging roadway system. Unfortunately it will likely take longer to do so.”
The political action committee Fix Our Roads led the initiative. Jeffrey Polston, who serves as treasurer of the group, said in an email: “I am very sad for the City of Yuma because without this proposition being passed, the roads will get even worse causing damage to our vehicles, safety for our drivers and bicyclists and the
reputation of our city.”
He didn’t know what the next step would be, but he asked that those who voted “no” to “personally reach out to our Mayor and Council and ask them to educate you on the budget process. Hopefully this process will help you to understand why an initiative like 411 is essential for our community.”
Polston became involved with the initiative after the city asked him to sit on an advisory committee tasked with coming up with new revenue. Eventually the group began focusing on the deteriorating condition of city streets.
“I am not sure where we are going from here, but I want to personally thank the members of the committee that organized this initiative for their work and sacrifices. They spent time, talent and treasure for this initiative. For those who voted ‘yes,’ I thank you very much for your support,” Polston said.
Howard Blitz, founder and director of The Freedom Library, believes Yuma citizens are sending the message that they want “government at all levels to prioritize what they are authorized to do by their Constitutions and City Charters.” He previously said he is concerned that the city has not looked at all the options. “The money might already be there. I’m not a fan of a tax increase. The roads need to be fixed and serviced, but my concern is priorities.”
An engineering consultant who assessed city roads earlier this year reported that the city needs $13 million a year to properly fix and maintain roads. Officials have repeatedly said that the city does not have enough funding to fix roads. Funds for roads have been steadily decreasing for years. The last time the gas tax was adjusted was 1991. Since then, the cost of roads doubled and gas mileage in vehicles increased by 50 percent, which means less taxes collected at the pump.
In addition, the state repeatedly swept Highway User Revenue Funds intended to go to local jurisdictions for maintenance and repair of roads.
Yuma currently collects a retail sales tax of 1.7 percent, which applies to most retail goods, grocery items and food for home consumption, restaurants, bars, transient lodging, residential and commercial rentals or leases, and other categories. The total tax rate for general retail is 8.412 percent when the state, county and city tax rates are combined.
The city has an additional 2 percent “hospitality” tax for transient lodging, bars and restaurants and prepared foods that is collected directly by the city. The city’s statement noted that during the election cycle, officials became aware of “conversations circulating through the community” regarding the hospitality tax.
“Unfortunately, the state regulates and strictly limits what kind of communication we can have with voters once a measure qualifies for a ballot, and we were unable to address these issues directly,” the statement said.
One common misconception the city found was that people believed that funds collected for one purpose could be used instead for others, for example, taking 2 percent hospitality tax money and using it to fix roads. This is illegal.
Another misconception, according to the city, was that current road funding would be moved and used elsewhere. “As these existing funds are earmarked by the voters for roads, this also would be illegal; those funds cannot be spent anywhere
else. These accounts are independently audited by an outside agency every year to ensure funds are spent appropriately,” the city said.
On the plus side, the statement added, Prop 411 did receive a significantly higher percentage of votes than a similar measure proposed two years earlier that would have addressed both the road issue and issues with public safety funding. However, that increase was not enough for passage.
The city also expressed appreciation for the “efforts of those who took the time to fully understand the issue. We look forward to future opportunities to address the lack of roadway maintenance funding.”