Mid-term elections on November 8th draw near. Here is a list of ballot initiatives that directly affect motorists around the country.
No matter your political stance, the National Motorist Association encourages all motorists to vote in every local election. Remember–all traffic is local and your vote can make a difference in how streets and roads are funded plus other motorist issues that might matter to you.
California
Statewide—Proposition 30
Voters will decide whether a 1.75% extra tax on residents with a personal income over $2 million per year can be used to raise an additional $3.5 to $5 billion annually for electric vehicle purchase rebates, EV charging stations, and wildfire prevention.
El Dorado County Measure R and Measure S
Measure R asks voters to increase the hotel/motel tax on the West Slope from 10% to 12%. An estimated $340,000 yearly would be raised for road maintenance.
Measure S asks voters to increase the hotel/motel tax in the Lake Tahoe area from 10% to 14%. Revenue estimated at $2.5 million annually would be used for snow removal and road maintenance.
Fresno County Measure C
If successful, Measure C would implement a 30-year sales tax that would raise the sales tax a half-cent for an estimated $6.8 billion for roads/highways/streets ($4.5 billion), rural and urban transit ($812 million), safe bikes and pedestrians ($75 million), and sustainable transportation ($144 million).
Madera County Measure T
Voters will decide whether to renew the county’s half-cent sales tax to provide funding an estimated $10.4 million annually for 20 years for streets, highways, and bridges.
Sacramento County Measure A
Voters will decide whether to raise a total of $8.5 billion ($212.5 million annually) with a half-cent percent sales tax for roads, new bridges, and expansion of light rail.
Long Beach, Measure 3
A Yes or No vote will decide on whether to establish a police oversight commission.
Huntington Park, Measure PP
A Yes or No vote will decide on whether to authorize an overnight parking permit program on public streets.
San Francisco Proposition I
Voters will decide whether to allow private motor vehicles on John F. Kennedy Drive and connector streets (known as the JFK Promenade) except for Sundays and legal holidays plus Saturdays, April through September.
San Francisco Proposition J
In a competing JFK Drive proposition, voters will decide whether to uphold the May 2022 ordinance that provided for the closure of portions of JFK Drive and some connector streets in Golden Gate Park to use as open recreation areas.
San Francisco (City and County) Proposition L
Voters will decide whether to raise $2.6 billion ($100 million annually) through the renewal of a one-half cent sale tax through 2053 for transit maintenance/improvements (41.2%); major transit projects (22.6%); streets and freeways (18.9%); paratransit services (11.4%); system development and management (5.9%). A two-thirds majority of voters would need to approve the extension.
Tuolumne County Measure X
Located east of Stockton, voters will decide whether to authorize a 10-year, one percent sales tax increase for unincorporated areas of the county. The rate increases from 7.25% to 8.25%. The revenue boost is estimated at $6.4 million and will be used for fire, law enforcement, and road services.
Colorado
Boulder County—Sales Tax Renewal
Voters are asked to renew a 0.1% sales tax that would raise $121 million over 15 years to fund multimodal transportation, roads, trails, bikeways, and transit.
Eagle County—Sales Tax Increase
Voters are asked to approve a half-cent percent to generate $11.5 million annually. Funds would establish a regional transportation partnership to enhance area transit systems.
Florida
Orange County (Orlando Area) Sales Tax Increase
A Yes or No vote will decide on a 0.1% sales tax increase for 20 years to raise an estimated $11.9 billion. Funds would be used for transit (45%), county roadways (45%), and city roadways (10%).
Maine
Augusta Question 1
Voters will decide whether to issue $2.055 million in bonds for street and sidewalk improvements, civic center repairs, and a boat landing.
Massachusetts
Statewide Question 1
Voters are asked to raise a 4% tax (estimated $1.3 billion) on earners over $1 million to support education and transportation. Vote is subject to appropriation by the state legislature.
Statewide Question 4
In June, the Massachusetts legislature passed a law that would allow immigrants without legal status to obtain certain driver’s licenses. Question 4 is a repeal against the law. A vote yes would preserve the law and allow undocumented immigrants to apply for a standard driver’s license but not a REAL ID license. A vote NO would repeal the law signed this year.
Michigan
Huron County Property Tax Levy
Voters are asked to vote on funding for the Huron Transit Corporation. The six-year property tax would levy $0.20 per $1,000 of home taxable value.
Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne Counties Property Tax Hike
Votes are asked in the three counties to approve a 10-year property tax hike of $0.95 cents per $1,000 in taxable value. The extra taxes would fund the regional transit authority that serves suburban Detroit. Estimated first year tax revenue is projected to be $20 million.
Montana
Statewide C-48
Voters are asked to decide whether a search warrant would be required to access a person’s electronic data (including connected vehicles and smartphones).
Nebraska
Statewide Amendment 1
Voters will decide whether a valid photographic identification (usually a driver’s license or state ID) to vote.
Nevada
Carson City Question 1
A Yes or No vote will decide on whether to continue the city’s five-cent per gallon tax on diesel fuel with the additional revenue going towards highways, roads, streets, and alleys.
New Mexico
Bernalillo County Transportation Bond Measure
Voters will decide whether to issue $10.225 million in bonds for roads and other street and trail improvements.
Santa Fe County Question 1
Voters will make a decision on whether to issue $13.0 million in general obligation bonds for road improvements within Santa Fe County.
North Carolina
New Hanover County (Wilmington area) Sales Tax Increase
The 0.25% sales tax would raise $144 million over 10 years to support the public transportation authority and fund bike and pedestrian paths.
Charlotte Transportation Bond Measure
Voters will decide whether to issue $146.2 million in bonds to various transportation projects including streets and roads.
Ohio
Akron Issue 10
City voters will decide whether the city should establish a police oversight board and a police auditor office.
Texas
Harris County (Houston Area) Proposition B
Voters will determine whether to authorize the county to issue $900 million in bonds to fund transportation projects including road maintenance, bridges, and bike lanes.
Corpus Christi Proposition A
A Yes or NO vote will decide whether the city of Corpus Christi can issue $92.5 million in bonds for street infrastructure projects.
El Paso Proposition A
A decision by local voters will determine whether the city can issue $246.48 million in bonds for street improvements such as sidewalks, streetscapes, and traffic controls.
Washington State
Statewide Advisory Vote 40
A vote of Yes or No will advise the legislature to either maintain or repeal a tax on transportation network companies passed in House Bill 2076.
West Virginia
Statewide Amendment 2
If approved, the measure would allow the legislature the authority to eliminate tangible personal property taxes on personal vehicles, business machinery, equipment, and inventory. Currently, taxes on tangible personal property is enshrined in the state’s constitution, which means the collection is mandatory and not adjustable by elected officials.
