SAN DIEGO—County Measure G—a proposed half-cent sales tax to fund transit projects, road and highway repairs and transportation maintenance—is still being narrowly defeated as vote-counting continued, with “no” votes at 51.4 percent compared to 48.6 percent in favor.
According to the county Registrar of Voters, the “no” votes stood at 595,244, while the “yes” votes were at 562,264 following the most recent update. The margin has shrunk since election night and the race remained too close to call, with ballots still left to be processed in the county.
Measure G, needing a simple majority to pass, would authorize spending the sales-tax proceeds on a number of transit-related operations.
They would be divided by 50 percent to capital projects related to transit; 27 percent toward capital projects related to road and highway traffic flow and commuter safety; 12 percent on transit operations for the Metropolitan Transit System and North County Transit District.
In addition, 7 percent would go to streets, road maintenance and active transportation; 2 percent to rail transit-related repairs, rehabilitation and replacement; and no more than 2 percent on general administration.
The measure would also create an oversight committee intended to ensure the tax proceeds are spent as outlined in the measure.
Supporters said Measure G would generate $350 million annually for projects that will improve safety by repairing aging, deteriorating infrastructure, and reduce traffic by funding rapid transit projects. Reducing car commutes and encouraging more people to take public transportation will also lead to air quality improvements and other environmental benefits, according to supporters.
But opponents said the tax increase would hurt residents already burdened by the high costs of living in San Diego County, and that two-thirds of the funding would support public transit projects that are less suitable for county residents than highway-related projects.
Opponents also said that SANDAG—the San Diego Association of Governments, which has weathered controversies over the years regarding its practices and management—does not have a good track record and has failed to come through on transportation improvement promises in the past.
Measure G proponents said the oversight committee created by the measure would conduct annual audits and can refer individuals for criminal prosecution if funds are misused.
Among those opposing Measure G were County Supervisor Jim Desmond, 75th Assembly District candidate Carl DeMaio, and Haney Hong, president and CEO of the San Diego County Taxpayers Association.
A similar half-cent sales tax increase for county transportation initiatives failed in 2016. That measure garnered 58 percent approval but required a two-thirds majority, unlike Measure G, which needed only a simple majority because it was a citizens initiative.
