Measure R - Proposed Half-Cent Sales Tax Increase

AB 2321 (Feuer) is a bill currently in the legislature that allows Metro to put on the November ballot a half-cent (.5%) sales tax increase for voters to approve.  Metro supplemented this bill by releasing a draft expenditure plan for its proposed half-cent sales tax increase on July 16th.  Metro expects that approximately $40 billion will be raised through the imposition of a new sales tax over the next thirty years to support a wide range of transportation projects. This tax income is projected based on a four percent (4%) growth per year in sales tax revenues linked to growth in population and spending in the County.  Metro approved the measure to be put on the ballot, 9 to 2, on July 24th.  The COG was not in support of Measure R as it stood on July 24th due to the inequity of alloted funds.

On July 28th, John Fasana, The SGV Representative on the Metro Board, wrote a letter addressing some of the issues.  Click here to read the letter, without attached amendments.

Implementing AB 32

AB 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, was passed by the California Legislature on August 31, 2006. This legislation followed the lessons of the Governor’s Executive Order the prior year that established a goal for reducing global warming pollution to 1990 levels by 2020, and 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. This reduction will be accomplished through an enforceable statewide cap on global warming emissions that will be phased in starting in 2012. In order to effectively implement the cap, AB 32 directs the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to develop and enforce appropriate regulations and establish a mandatory reporting system to track and monitor global warming emissions levels.

The "Scoping Plan" is California's policy blueprint containing the broad overview of the programs, measures, and approaches that will help California achieve the required reductions of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions required under the AB 32. Under the specifications of the Act, the Scoping Plan is being developed by the California Air Resources Board. The Plan will include a range of actions to reduce GHGs, from direct regulations to incentives.  Download a copy of the Draft Scoping Plan by clicking here.

The COG is committed to assisting its member agencies as they begin to examine their role in acheivng the stated goals.  Below are a number of resources available to local jurisdictions relating to AB 32 implementation: