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Calistoga endorses Measure U expenditure plan to replace existing local sales tax
Summary
The council adopted a resolution approving the Napa Valley Transportation Authority’s Measure U expenditure plan — a sales‑tax continuation with bonding scenarios to accelerate local and regional street, highway and evacuation projects — sending the plan forward for ballot consideration.
The Calistoga City Council voted to adopt a resolution supporting the Napa Valley Transportation Authority’s proposed Measure U expenditure plan, a continuation of the current 0.5% local sales tax that would include options for issuing bonds to accelerate pavement and regional capital projects.
Kate Miller and Liz Alessio of the Napa Valley Transportation Authority outlined Measure U’s objectives: maintain roughly the same local allocation to streets and roads while creating a regional program and creating capacity to bond against future receipts so large projects could be delivered sooner. Presenters said up to $56 million of the program could be dedicated to regional projects such as an airport/State Route 29/12 improvement, roundabout conversions at key intersections and a highway operations and emergency evacuation center to aid evacuation and incident management.
Supporters told council that bonding could improve pavement condition indices by bringing funds forward, increase the authority’s ability to seek matching grants and allow coordinated, larger‑scale projects. The Authority described three bond‑issuance scenarios and said regional tranches would be issued only for shelf‑ready projects.
After public comment from NVTA members and residents, Councilmember Eisenberg moved to adopt the expenditure plan; the motion carried on a roll‑call vote with all council members voting aye. The NVTA plans further jurisdictional actions and outreach to add the measure to the November ballot if county processes permit.
