VTA delays vote on tax priorities

BOARD REMAINS SPLIT OVER BART, CALTRAIN, AIRPORT TRANSIT LINK

In an often snippy meeting, transit board members postponed until February a vote on which projects would be funded by a new sales tax measure they may place on the November ballot.

The delay at Thursday’s Valley Transportation Authority meeting was a temporary setback for San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales, who released a plan Monday to speed up construction of a transit link from the proposed BART extension in Santa Clara to Mineta San Jose International Airport.

It also pitted San Jose council members on the board — whose top priority is the BART extension to San Jose — against political leaders on the board from the Peninsula and South County, who want more Caltrain service. Frustration over months of debate and last-minute proposals roared to the surface.

‘‘You’re saying ‘we’ve got to do this now,’ but it’s only a courtesy to allow us and the public to sit down and have time to look at this,’’ said Santa Clara County Supervisor Don Gage, whose South County district includes Gilroy. ‘‘Anytime you shove something in front of us that causes distrust, it’s really a shame.’’

Revised plan

Finding a way to pay for the $248 million automated people mover from a proposed BART station to the airport has become a major sticking point. Under a city ordinance proposed by Gonzales and approved by voters in 2003, expansion of the airport can’t occur unless money is identified to build the transit link.

The revised VTA plan assumes voters will approve an additional quarter-cent sales tax for the next 30 years, which is needed to rescue the proposed $4.7 billion BART extension to the South Bay as well as some of the other projects voters approved as part of the Measure A half-cent sales tax increase in 2000.

The valley’s economic slump has led to a drop in projected revenues, and there won’t be enough cash to pay for all projects promised five years ago in that measure.

Gonzales’ plan for the proposed new tax calls for the city to front the money for the airport people mover, with the VTA obligated to pay it back with interest. Details were fuzzy, with San Jose representatives saying they are not sure the city could come up with the millions needed.

The timing of the latest proposal — three days before Thursday’s key vote to set spending priorities during the next three decades — ticked off Gage and others.

‘‘Don, they don’t care what you think,’’ said David Casas of Los Altos, sitting next to Gonzales but not looking at the San Jose mayor as he spoke. ‘‘They don’t care what I think. I’m not sure they care what voters think.’’

That set off Gonzales and other San Jose council members, fed up with being portrayed as the heavies in the transportation battle, with Gonzales saying he wanted more ‘‘respect for our city.’’

‘‘It is San Jose that has brought forward proposal after proposal and every time we bring one forward, we are criticized and labeled as the bad guys,’’ Gonzales said. ‘‘We’re just as committed to all these projects as you are. But we don’t have the kind of revenues we anticipated. I propose we get out of the name-calling business and figure out what our priorities are.’’

San Jose Councilman Forrest Williams was most irritated, saying he would pack the chambers with BART supporters in February when the VTA board is scheduled to take up the issue.

‘‘I don’t want to come back and hear complaints that we can’t make a decision,’’ Williams said. ‘‘That’s our job. Let’s get it done. There are so many excuses that it’s unbelievable.’’

Super-majority needed

What voters make of the political infighting around the proposed sales tax is crucial. Two-thirds of them would

have to approve the new

measure if it goes on the

ballot. A business group

poll last spring indicated a new tax would fall

short of that margin.

‘‘There is a lack of

trust that is disturbing,’’

said San Jose Vice Mayor and mayoral candidate Cindy Chavez, who will take over as VTA chairwoman next month. ‘‘If people feel duped, we have to deal with those perceptions and feelings that they have.’’ Contact Gary Richards at mrroadshow@ mercurynews.com or (408) 920-5335.