Title
Approve a recommendation from the Legislative Committee to adopt a support position on AB 761 (Addis) Monterey Salinas Transit District: sales and special taxes.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors approve a recommendation from the Legislative Committee to adopt a support position on AB 761 (Addis) Monterey Salinas Transit District: sales and special taxes.
SUMMARY:
Assemblymember Dawn Addis has introduced legislation, AB 761 (Addis) Monterey Salinas Transit District: sales and special taxes (also titled: “Accessible Transit for Monterey County”).
The legislation is sponsored by Monterey Salinas Transit (MST). MST requested that the County of Monterey submit a support letter on AB 761. The matter was heard by the Legislative Committee on March 10, 2025, and the Legislative Committee recommended that the Board of Supervisors adopt a support position on this measure.
DISCUSSION:
In 2009, AB 644 (Caballero) established MST, which includes the Cities of Carmel, Del Rey Oaks, Gonzales, Greenfield, King City, Marina, Monterey, Pacific Grove, Salinas, Sand City, Seaside, and Soledad and the County of Monterey. The district is governed by a board of directors, with a representative from each member jurisdiction. MST is one of the largest transit districts in the state that does not fund its general operations through a sales tax.
In November 2014, Monterey County voters approved Measure Q, the countywide 1/8-cent sales tax measure for public transit. Measure Q funds transportation services and equipment for veterans, senior citizens, and people with disabilities. Since 2015, Measure Q has generated approximately $7 million annually. Measure Q is set to expire in 2030 unless it is renewed by the voters, or a new measure comes forward to replace the lost revenue.
The MST Board may also want to submit an additional 1/8-cent sales tax to the voters to support additional transit operations and capital needs. However, state law...
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