Riverside County voters likely to keep half-cent tax on roads
The measure to extend the transportation tax past 2039 is tracking for a super-majority win with over 70% approval.
By Alina Campbell ·
Riverside County residents appear set to keep a half-cent sales tax in place for an indefinite period. The tax, known as Measure A, funds road repairs and transportation projects across the region. Early returns show the measure is on track to pass with the required two-thirds majority.
The Riverside County Office of the Registrar of Voters released updated figures late Wednesday afternoon. Those numbers showed 70.3% of voters supporting the proposal. The measure requires 66.6% approval to take effect. This result confirms that the tax will continue beyond its current sunset date of 2039.
This is the second time voters have addressed the status of this tax. The original measure took effect in 1988. Voters renewed it in 2002. Had Tuesday’s election resulted in a rejection, the tax would still have remained in force until 2039. The current vote allows the revenue stream to continue until the public decides to end it.
Supporters argued that the tax is necessary to manage growth in one of the nation’s fastest-expanding counties. They pointed to specific projects funded by the revenue, including expansions on Highways 111, 74, and 62. Improvements to Interstate 10 and the Riverside 91 Freeway also drew from these funds. Other uses included pothole repairs, lane additions, and express lanes on the 91 and Interstate 15.
Opponents contended that the tax has not solved the county’s traffic problems. They noted that the measure has generated nearly $5 billion since its inception. Critics stated that congestion and deteriorating roads persist despite this spending. They argued that taxpayers deserve visible results rather than another open-ended extension without a new sunset date.
The Riverside County Transportation Commission manages the revenue from this tax. Its board, which includes nearly three dozen members, decides how to allocate funds for specific projects. The commission placed the extension proposal on the ballot by resolution. Any future increase to the half-cent rate would require a separate vote by the public.
The measure will remain in effect until voters choose to repeal it. No changes to the tax rate are planned before the original 2039 sunset date. The county will continue to use the revenue for infrastructure maintenance and expansion as directed by the Transportation Commission.
