Road-Tax Supporters Raise $86,000 : Contributions: Backers of Measure P have raised more than 40 times the funds gathered by foes of the initiative, which would earmark $285 million for Santa Clarita Valley road improvements.

Backers of a $285-million tax initiative to build and improve roads in the Santa Clarita Valley have raised $86,000 to push their cause, more than 40 times the amount raised by opponents of the measure.

Contractors and developers made the largest contributions to the Roads Now Committee, according to the latest financial disclosure statements released Friday. The largest contributions came from two companies and a builder, each of which gave $10,000 to support Measure P.

By comparison, a group calling itself SMRT (Stop Mello-Roos Tax) reported total contributions of $1,903.

Measure P would create a giant assessment district, technically known as a Mello-Roos district, covering most of the Santa Clarita Valley. The measure would add from $75 to $200 to yearly property tax bills, depending on the size of a dwelling. Commercial and industrial property owners would pay 7 1/2 cents per square foot. Senior citizens would be exempt.

The Roads Now Committee says Measure P is needed to refurbish the valley’s inefficient road network. SMRT says new roads will only encourage more growth in a valley struggling to accommodate the effects of rapid development.

The campaign over Measure P has been a study in contrasts. The Roads Now Committee hired a political consultant and operates out of a campaign office complete with precinct maps on the walls and a phone bank to call voters.

Endorsing Measure P are Santa Clarita Mayor Jan Heidt, Councilman Howard P. (Buck) McKeon, state Sen. Ed Davis (R-Valencia), the local chambers of commerce and the Los Angeles County Firefighters Assn., which called the valley’s increasing traffic problems a threat to public safety.

Despite the endorsements, members of the Roads Now Committee admit that it will not be easy to win the two-thirds vote needed to pass Measure P on Nov. 7.

SMRT operates out of the home of Brian Drygas, a Valencia resident who acts as co-chairman of the group, which is made up of political unknowns. Ed Schullery, SMRT treasurer, said the group had received 705 donations under $100.

The group received $905.50 in cash, $697.98 in services and a $300 loan from Drygas. Drygas said the group relies on volunteers to write letters to the editor, walk door-to-door and hand out flyers.

“We don’t have developer money,” Schullery said.

The three contributors who each gave $10,000 to the Roads Now Committee were Carpenter’s Contractors of Los Angeles, Bramalea California of Costa Mesa and John W. Vojtech, a self-described home builder with Concord Building Corp. of Chatsworth, according to the disclosure statements.

Contributions of $1,000 came from County Oaks Escrow of Valencia; Santa Clarita National Bank; Randy Carpenter, a self-employed craftsman; Don F. Guglielmino, chairman of Santa Clarita National Bank, and Glen H. Rollins, an agent with Wildwood Oaks Realty in Newhall.

Other donations included $1,500 from Bouquet Construction Co. of Newhall and $2,000 from four employees of Warmington Homes, a builder in the valley. Gruber Systems provided $4,708 worth of office space and supplies. Five brick masons each gave $500.