Riverside County Measure A Nears Two-Thirds Vote for Permanent Road Tax
Latest tallies show the half-cent sales tax at 70.3 percent approval, securing indefinite funding for local infrastructure.
By Aiko Brooks ·
Riverside County voters are on track to extend a half-cent sales tax indefinitely.
The Riverside County Office of the Registrar of Voters reported that Measure A reached 70.3 percent approval in the latest returns released late Wednesday. This figure exceeds the two-thirds threshold required for the measure to pass.
The tax, which has been in place since 1988, funds transportation projects across the county. Voters previously renewed the measure in 2002. The current ballot question asks residents to decide whether the tax should expire in 2039 or continue without a sunset date until the public votes to end it.
Supporters argue the extension is necessary to manage rapid population growth. Campaign literature stated that approving Measure A would cut traffic and speed up road repairs without raising rates. They warned that gridlock and air pollution would worsen without the funding.
Opponents countered that the tax has failed to solve existing problems. The county voter guide noted that the area still suffers from severe congestion and deteriorating roads despite collecting nearly $5 billion since inception. Critics argued that taxpayers deserve results rather than another promise that future collections will fix past issues.
The Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) oversees the revenue. Its board, comprising nearly three dozen members, determines project allocations. The commission placed the proposal on the ballot by resolution. Supporters cited funding for expansions on Highways 111, 74, and 62, as well as improvements to Interstate 10 and the 91 Freeway.
Funds have also supported pothole repairs, lane additions, sidewalk installations, and bridge repairs. Agencies have used the money to establish express lanes on the 91 and Interstate 15 and to widen transition ramps. No proposal exists to increase the half-cent tax before the original 2039 sunset date, though any future increase would require voter approval.
Even if voters had rejected the indefinite extension, the tax would have remained in force until 2039. The Wednesday results suggest a strong mandate for the continuation of the revenue stream.
