Contra Costa Measure O Summary: on November 2, Say “NO” on O

Measure O would add $10 to the already large annual Contra Costa County and State fees we pay for
registering each automobile, and “The fee would be paid in perpetuity unless later terminated by voters.”

The Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA), one of the overlapping bureaucracies which infest the Bay
Area and California at large, would administer the new funds (estimated at $8.5 Million annually) — alleging
that approximately 71% of the proceeds would be allocated to local road improvement and repair, 21% to
[already under-utilized] transit for “congestion relief,” and 8% to pedestrian and bicycle access and safety, after
“administrative costs” [5%, or about $425,000 annually] are deducted. The original allocation may be modified
after five years by a two-thirds vote of the CCTA board. Measure O should be a readily apparent “NO” vote!

Essentially, it’s long past time to insist that existing transportation tax dollars be reduced and applied efficiently:

• As is, you annually pay a registration fee ($34), California Highway Patrol fee ($22), smog abatement fee ($20),
existing County/District fee ($10), and License fee (1.15% of assessed value — e.g. $230 on a car valued at $20,000).

• And on each gallon of gasoline, you directly pay a $0.353 excise tax, plus a 2.25% special sales tax.
Rolled into that gallon’s underlying cost is another $0.173 paid by the dealer in fuel storage taxes.

• Along with Measure O on the November ballot, there are numerous other state and local tax measures,
including an $18 add-on “fee” to benefit state parks, whether you visit them or not (Prop. 21).

• With 2004’s Measure J, Contra Costa County taxpayers generously approved a 25-year extension of
the County’s existing ½-cent transportation sales tax, beyond an original expiration date of 2009. So,
of the current (outrageously high) 9.25% CCC sales tax, 0.5% is reserved for county transportation expenses.
• Less than 50% of the Measure J sales tax funds roads, Contra Costa’s greatest transportation need.
Despite many Billions in new transit subsidies [including Measure J] for buses, trains, and ferries: automobiles
will still provide 82% of Bay Area trips in 2025, transit just 6% [Metropolitan Transportation Commission, 2001].

• Only 11% of the Billions in new bridge-toll dollars promoted as "traffic relief” and approved as Regional
Measure 2 (also in 2004) affect roads and bridges. RM2 raised bridge tolls at the time from $2 to $3 — and
provides $700 Million for ferries – twice what highways get . Measure J handed ferries another $45 Million!

• Commute-time Bay Bridge tolls are now $6 — i.e., $1500 for a work-year of daily San Francisco commutes.

• The 7 Bay Area counties which voted on RM2 bridge “fees” are all back on the ballot this November for
the $10 auto-registration add-on fee. But you have the opportunity to say “NO” for Contra Costa County.

• CCTA’s 19-person bureaucracy averages over $105,000 each in annual salary, plus 60% more in benefits.

• CCTA’s Board passes an annual resolution "requiring it to pay employee retirement contributions [7%]
as well as its own [13.67%]," and also now funds retiree health benefits (up to $1,042 monthly as of 2008).

• CCTA will reportedly spend another $1.15 Million just on Measure O’s election costs.

• Both the Contra Costa Taxpayers Association and the Alliance of Contra Costa Taxpayers urge a “NO” vote.

• By calling this new intended tax a “fee” (though not everyone would benefit from paying it) CCTA can
get away with Measure O if 50% of voters plus one (instead of two thirds) vote yes.

But CCTA’s own $35,000 poll revealed that 49% said "Taxes are already high enough; I’ll vote against any
increase in taxes," vs. 38% who said "It is crucial to have high quality roads and public transit, even if it means
raising taxes," and 13% who said Both/Neither/Don't Know." So help get out the word, to “Say NO on O!”