Carmageddon: Sales tax to prevent major cuts to Santa Cruz Metro aimed for November ballot

Santa Cruz Metro supporters are gathering signatures in order to get a half-cent countywide sales tax measure on the ballot in order to continue the major service increase the transit agency has rolled out over the past three years. Without a local funding source, those improvements would be rolled back, and the agency could be forced to lay off more than 100 employees.

Metro’s three-year pilot program, named Reimagine Metro, involves wide-ranging service and route changes with the lofty goal of doubling ridership from 3.5 million to 7 million rides annually and providing more direct, frequent service. It was funded by a $28 million one-time state grant, which is expected to run out early next year.

Metro Board Chair and District 1 County Supervisor Manu Koenig told Lookout that the agency knew it would need to find a local funding source to continue its increased service. It took a poll last fall to gauge the appetite for a sales tax, with 59% of respondents approving of the idea. If the Metro board voted itself to put a measure on the ballot, it would require a two-thirds majority to pass, while a citizens’ initiative requires only over 50% approval to pass.

“It became clear that some citizens would have to pick it up and qualify it if it were to have a good chance,” Koenig said.

The supporters gathering signatures are operating under the name Friends of Santa Cruz Metro, and need to get 10,500 signatures by May 11 to qualify for the November ballot. According to a media release, the group has already collected about 2,000 signatures as of late last week.

Koenig has endorsed the measure, along with Santa Cruz Vice Mayor Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson and Capitola City Councilmember Melinda Orbach, both of whom are also on the Metro board. Koenig said they are all acting as private citizens, and are not using agency or public resources to promote the measure. Other endorsements include County Superintendent of Schools Faris Sabbah, Capitola City Councilmembers Joe Clarke and Susan Westman, Santa Cruz Area Chamber of Commerce executive director Kristen Brown and Watsonville City Councilmember Eduardo Montesino.

A failure to pass a local funding source could have serious ramifications for Metro. Koenig said a high-end estimate sees the agency potentially laying off about 100 drivers. Metro spokesperson Danielle Frost told Lookout via email that Metro would likely have to reduce service by 35% to 40% by summer 2027, and that it would also put the Youth Cruz Free program, which offers free fares for K-12 students, at risk of discontinuation. 

“These cuts would impact riders across the county including seniors, people with disabilities, students, and commuters,” she wrote.

Koenig spoke about the importance of Youth Cruz Free, which he said has resulted in a 400% increase in youth ridership. He said he spoke to some young residents who recently turned 18 while collecting signatures, who all told him they had not taken buses before Reimagine Metro.

Kalantari-Johnson added that the agency would also not be able to pursue expanding free services to seniors and people with disabilities if local funding is not identified.

If the group does not gather the required number of signatures by May 11, Koenig said the county board of supervisors could choose to hold a special election to put the item in front of voters, or hold off until the March 2028 primary. Given the county’s precarious financial situation heading into the next fiscal year, Koenig said he’s somewhat concerned about the cost of holding a special election, which he said is roughly $500,000.

“I do think that the cost of a special election would be a serious factor the board would consider,” he said. “Personally, I would have a hard time voting for the additional expenditure.”

Kalantari-Johnson said she believes that the 2028 primary would be waiting too long, but regardless of how consideration of a special election might play out, she’s “hopeful that we’ll make it this round.”

“The November election will be a big one,” she said. “A lot of people are paying attention, so there will be high voter turnout, adding that she’s also optimistic a measure would pass, despite the general public’s reluctance to take on more taxes. “Our polling is hopeful, and I think even when testing for opposition, we are able to accomplish this.”

Friends of Santa Cruz Metro will host a campaign kickoff at the downtown RiverRow apartments on Friday at noon.

Latest news

This week, pay particular attention to:

• Electrical work, tree work, and utility work are shutting down one lane of Highway 9 between Hihn Street and San Lorenzo Elementary School, Mount Cross Camp Road and El Solyo Heights Drive, Pike Road and Western Avenue, Riverdale Park and Monaco Lane, Spring Creek Road and Riverside Drive, Pool Drive and Old County Highway, Greenvale Drive and Quigg Way, and McGaffigan Mill Road and Saratoga Toll Road from Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.

• Drainage work is causing a closure of the southbound Highway 1 on-ramp at Buena Vista Drive in Watsonville from Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m.

• Striping is causing an overnight closure of the southbound Highway 1 on-ramp at Soquel Drive in Live Oak from Monday through Wednesday between 2 a.m. and 6 p.m.

• Emergency sewer work in Soquel Village could occasionally block access to driveways, sidewalks, on-street parking and interrupt sewer service on weekdays until June 30, on Soquel Drive, Porter Street and Main Street. Work on Soquel Drive will be overnight from 8:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Porter and Main streets. Other, shorter-duration potholing on Porter, Main and Center streets and Daubenbiss Avenue will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Have something to say? Lookout welcomes letters to the editor, within our policies, from readers. Guidelines here.