Carson City RTC to discuss funding road repairs

As the Nov. 5 election nears, Carson City voters will consider two ballot questions regarding local road funding — the result of the city trying to reverse an estimated $21 million annual shortfall in maintaining the current road network.

The ballot questions were approved by the Board of Supervisors in April after years of studies, forums, workshops and public debate on how best to fund local roads, the neighborhood streets that don’t qualify for federal grants like regional collectors or arterials but make up the majority of city roadways.

Wednesday, the Carson City Regional Transportation Commission will discuss a report on local road-funding strategies and possibly make a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors concerning the report and solutions.

The meeting will immediately follow the Carson Area Metropolitan Planning Organization meeting that starts at 4:30 p.m. in the community center board room.

“The report provides a summary of the funding mechanisms requested by the board and summarizes possible implementation methods and features of a GID,” according to city staff. “The report, the associated supporting material, and input received by RTC, will ultimately be presented to the board for their consideration.”

A GID, or general improvement district that would include special assessments on properties, was one road-funding option explored by the city. Members of the public have been critical of a GID, and supervisors generally wanted more information on the proposal. Different GID scenarios and recommendations are presented in the report for Wednesday: https://legistarweb-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/attachment/pdf/2787198/5A_RTC_Exhibit_1_-_Local_Roads_Funding_Technical_Memo.pdf.

The two proposals supervisors supported for the ballot are a .25 percent sales tax and a supplemental government services tax collected at the DMV. The latter would levy 1 cent of $1 for up to 35 percent of vehicle value, and the amount would decrease over time with depreciation. Together, the measures were estimated to raise $6.5 million to $7 million annually.

In approving the ballot questions in April, supervisors stipulated the funding, if approved by voters, be restricted to local roads.

According to Carson City Clerk-Recorder Scott Hoen, arguments for and against the ballot measures were completed, and respective rebuttals were to be submitted by Aug. 19. Looking at seven state questions and the two city questions, Hoen was hopeful sample ballots would go out Sept. 23 and mail ballots Sept. 30.

Early voting for the general election, which includes the U.S. presidential contest, begins Oct. 19.