Board vote to place 1% unincorporated road sales tax on ballot fails to meet required supermajority

The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors considered a proposed ordinance to impose a 1% county transportation transactions and use tax in unincorporated areas to fund pavement preservation, corrective maintenance and additional road‑maintenance staffing.

Department of Transportation Director Howard DeShield and Mendocino Council of Governments Executive Director Nephele Barrett presented a 20‑year corrective/preventative maintenance plan and said the proposed tax would generate approximately $5.5 million annually for unincorporated roads. DeShield outlined that additional recurring local revenue could restore lost pavement condition and fund 7–11 county maintenance positions and routine maintenance that federal and state grant programs typically do not cover.

Public commenters asked for binding accountability provisions and geographic transparency to ensure equitable district distribution of funds. Residents from Wallala Ridge urged stronger guarantees that local roads would benefit. MCOG staff noted that counties with self‑help sales taxes can access additional competitive and formula programs.

The Board voted 3–2 in favor of placing the measure on the ballot (Supervisors Norvell, Haschak and Williams in favor; Supervisors Klein and Mulhern dissenting), but County staff reminded the Board that the ordinance required a two‑thirds supermajority to pass; the motion therefore failed and the item was removed from the agenda.

What happens next: The Board declined to advance a local road tax at this meeting. Staff said materials and the 20‑year plan will remain available online and stressed that without additional local revenue, the county faces a continuing gap between needs and available funds for corrective pavement work.