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Commission recommends use of sugar-sweetened beverage tax revenue for crossing guards and expanded bike-safety education
Summary
After debate over priorities, the Transportation Commission recommended that City Council allocate tax proceeds for school crossing guards and bike-safety programs and directed staff to develop details for expanded e-bike safety training.
The Transportation Commission on March 27 voted to recommend a spending plan for Albany’s sugar-sweetened beverage tax proceeds for fiscal year 2026, prioritizing school crossing guards and bicycle-safety education.
Staff presented an overview of programs funded by the beverage tax since voters approved the measure and the ordinance (2016 O-2). The tax’s proceeds have funded a mix of programs — including the school crossing guard program, Cycles of Change bike safety classes for elementary students, Albany Swims lessons, and community fitness events — and the commission was asked to recommend how to apply approximately $220,000 in expected revenue.
Commission discussion focused on the public-safety role of crossing guards versus the tax’s original health-promotion framing, the declining revenue trend in recent years and the difficulty of long-term budgeting when revenues fall as intended, and the relative merits of continuing or expanding bike-safety education to address new risks from e-bikes and larger, heavier cargo bikes. Several commissioners argued crossing guards are an essential near-term expenditure but said they would like the City to identify alternative funding sources for the program over the long term.
After discussion commissioners agreed on a recommended allocation and additional staff follow-up. The commission’s recommendation included continued funding for the school crossing guard program and the Cycles of Change elementary fifth-grade bicycle education program, plus a request that staff return with a proposal for an e-bike safety/education offering (options considered included community-center classes or middle/high-school programming). Commissioners suggested a placeholder allocation to support that development work.
The motion passed on a roll-call vote. Votes recorded: Commissioner Baldwin — Aye; Commissioner Barnes — Aye; Commissioner Kerr — Yes; Commissioner Heilley — Aye; Commissioner McCroskey — Yes; Commissioner Zuba — Aye; Chair Jarvandau — Aye.
Ending: The commission’s recommendation and the midyear reports from program recipients will be presented to Council at an upcoming study session in May; staff will return with program details and cost estimates for the proposed e-bike safety/education pilot.
