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Citizen group seeks 1¢ business sales tax to fix Red Bluff streets; needs signatures
Summary
A volunteer-led "Street Smart Citizens" initiative presented a plan Oct. 7 to place a 1¢ business sales tax on the ballot to fund street repairs. Presenters said the city's pavement condition index has fallen and current funds are inadequate; the group said it needs roughly 791 valid voter signatures and is about 33% of the way there.
Danielle Eyestone, a lead organizer for the Street Smart Citizens Initiative, told the Red Bluff City Council on Oct. 7 that the city's pavement condition index has deteriorated and that current funding falls far short of needs. Eyestone said the city’s condition rating dropped from about 39 in 2023 to 36 and that "what is left is $237,000," while the cost to repave has risen so that roughly three-quarters of a mile now costs about $1 million.
The initiative proposes a 1¢ sales tax on businesses inside Red Bluff for 12 years. Eyestone said that the tax would generate about $5.1 million per year and approximately $61.2 million over 12 years, and that the proposal includes an oversight committee of five residents, business owners or property owners who would be barred from serving if they are current city or county employees or elected officials. "We are about 33% of where we need to be, and we have a little over eight weeks to go," Eyestone said, urging residents to sign petitions and volunteer as signature gatherers.
Council members and members of the public asked for details about which streets would be prioritized and whether the measure includes provisions for local hiring or guarantees about who would actually perform construction work. Eyestone said the initiative lists seven streets as examples — Walnut, Jackson, Aloha, Oak, Luther, Kimball and Gilmore — totaling a recent estimate of about $55 million, and that the plan includes $6.5 million held for matching grant opportunities. "If our public works department can get us some grants, state, federal, anywhere we can get it, we will be able to match funds and expand on those roads," she said.
Council member questions included whether the oversight committee already exists and how the city would control funds if voters approve the measure. Eyestone and other committee members said the citizen group is operating independently as a political committee to gather signatures; if the initiative qualifies and voters approve it, the sales tax would be collected by the State of California and the city would administer the funds under the ordinance. "Once it passes by the voters... then it shifts to the city to do their job," said a committee member.
Several public commenters pressed the group to prioritize streets used by schoolchildren and to ensure local jobs. David Burke, a caller, asked how many local citizens would work on the projects and whether money would remain in the community; committee members said exact contracting outcomes depend on bidders but expected local participation. The committee said they chose a business sales tax rather than a property tax so the burden would fall on consumers and visitors, not solely on property owners.
Eyestone said the petition needs a minimum of 791 verified signatures to qualify for the ballot and the group is aiming for 850–900 signatures. She asked citizens to contact any committee member to arrange signing or to volunteer to gather signatures. The council did not act on the initiative during the meeting.
