Tax Election Plans Advance a Notch

Plans for a Nov. 7 election on a half-cent sales tax in Orange County were advanced Monday with release of a proposed traffic improvement ordinance that would control how the revenue would be spent.

The proposal would deny proceeds to any city failing to use the money for transportation projects. The ordinance also would bar money to cities that fail to tie future growth to traffic standards. Also, it would require cities to spend the tax money within 3 years of receiving it.

The proposal was made public Monday by the Orange County Transportation Commission.

Stanley T. Oftelie, the panel’s executive director, called the provision barring money to cities that do not spend them on transportation a “death penalty” clause, enforcement of which could not be appealed to the Local Transportation Authority that would be set up to administer the tax.

However, such a ban would last just 5 years, after which time a city could ask the authority for permission to again receive sales taxes.

Tom Rogers, the San Juan Capistrano rancher who led a successful effort to defeat a similar 1-cent sales tax in 1984, said Monday that he is concerned about some provisions of the current plan. He wants to be assured that the ordinance’s citizens advisory group would have enough authority to see that the measure is enforced.

“If it’s going to be a rubber stamp for current officeholders, it won’t work,” Rogers said. “You can’t just give the money to the same people who caused the (traffic) problem in the first place.”

OCTC officials want to use the sales tax to help pay for $11.6 billion in road and transit projects over 20 years. The commission will hold a public hearing on the 20-year plan at 9 a.m. on May 8 in the county’s Hall of Administration in Santa Ana.

The 20-year plan would use $3.1 billion raised through the tax to supplement $8.5 billion expected to come from traditional sources, such as state, federal and local governments. The plan would pay for such projects as widening the Santa Ana Freeway from six lanes to 12, increasing rail service and adding car-pool lanes.

Assuming that the 20-year plan is adopted by the commission, the panel would then approve the traffic improvement ordinance and call for an election. The Board of Supervisors would then have until Aug. 8 to schedule a Nov. 7 election.

Oftelie said supervisors would be unlikely to refuse to schedule such an election if the Transportation Commission calls for one.

Supervisors Chairman Thomas F. Riley could not be reached for comment.