With an eye toward future elections, Sacramento Transporation Authority to explore another sales tax increase measure
For almost a decade, the STA has been bedeviled by pursuing a countywide sales tax increase to fund a wish list of primarily developer-driven projects.
If there is one characteristic of the Sacrmaento Transporation Authority, it is its tenacity in pursuing sales tax increases. During their recent board of directors meeting, 14 of the 15 directors agreed to study another sales tax measure.
During their October 10 meeting, STA executive director Kevin Bewsey presented a report urging the formation of a seven-member subcommittee to explore the pursuit of another sales tax increase measure. Although Bewsey did not specify what election cycle they might go to voters in, the next possible election would be the June 2026 primary.
For almost a decade, the STA has been bedeviled by pursuing a countywide sales tax increase to fund a wish list of primarily developer-driven projects. Since 2016, Sacramento County voters have rejected two sales tax increases.
As noted by Bewsey in the video below, two attempts to increase sales taxes countywide failed. 2016's Measure 6 and 2022's Measure A were both unsuccessful.
Measure A was put on the 2016 ballot by the STA and needed a 66-percent approval threshold. It failed by less than one percent.
In 2022, STA changed its strategy and convinced a business-led and funded group to sponsor the $8.5 billion Measure B, which was presented for voter approval. As a supposed citizen initiative, it only needed a simple majority for approval.
However, a coalition of taxpayer advocates, progressives, mass transit supporters, and environmentalists defeated the measure, painting it as a money-grab by wealthy land developers seeking taxpayers to fund the Southeast Connector, a crucial road for their future developments. Additionally, the coalition noted that sales tax increases are regressive and disproportionally hurt low-income wage earners.
As STA looks ahead to 2026, two board members, Sacramento County Supervisor Phil Serna, and Sacramento City Councilmember Caity Maples, asked Board Chair and Sacramento City Councilmember Eric Guerra to be included on the subcommittee.
Outgoing Sacramento County Supervisor Sue Frost was the only board member objecting to forming the subcommittee. See Frost's reasons in the video.
Elk Grove's two STA members are Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen and City Councilmember Kevin Spease. Singh-Allen skipped the meeting, and Spease did not comment on the subcommittee.
