Lines drawn over SANDAG tax measure

Opponents of Measure G call half-cent sales tax regressive, cite scandals, broken promises; supporters say it’s needed to meet climate goals, strengthen transit, reduce congestion

From left are mayors John McCann of Chula Vista, Rebecca Jones of San Marcos, Bill Wells of El Cajon, San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond and mayors John Franklin of Vista and Richard Bailey of Coronado. They held a press conference on Wednesday opposing Measure G, a half-cent sales tax to help fund SANDAG’s regional transportation plan. Courtesy photo

SAN DIEGO — A controversial sales tax to fund regional transportation projects with an emphasis on transit is part of this year’s ballot.

Measure G is a one-half-cent countywide sales tax increase and citizen’s initiative to partially fund the San Diego Association of Governments $172 billion regional transportation plan. On Wednesday, five local mayors and San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond held a press conference in opposition of the tax for broken promises and ripping the tactics used to bypass the SANDAG Board of Directors.

The transportation plan, meanwhile, calls for four total tax increases with two countywide one-half-cent and one San Diego-specific one-half-cent and one for rideshare. The plan also relies on state and federal funding. Measure G has no sunset clause and is estimated to generate $300 million per year, according to estimates.

However, Desmond and others railed against the plan as projects from the 2004 Transnet have not been fulfilled, and a series of scandals over the past four years has led to a U.S. Department of Justice investigation into SANDAG.

“We all want a transportation system that works,” Desmond said. “The first plan was all for transit that works for San Diego. We need a balanced program that includes mass transit, which we all agree, but we need the roads. Two-thirds of the money from Measure G is going toward mass transit.”