On June 5, California voters will decide on Proposition 69 — a ballot initiative that would amend the state constitution to ensure revenues generated from diesel sales taxes would only be used for transportation projects.

Otherwise known as the Transportation Taxes and Fees Lockbox and Appropriations Limit Exemption Amendment, Proposition 69 would guarantee that the tax money made on diesel sales taxes would only be used for improving public streets, highways, and public transportation systems.

Proposition 69 was a part of the of the legislative package that included SB-1 — commonly known as the “Gas-Tax” that was signed into law by Governor Brown in April 2017,

The Gas Tax enacted a $5.2-billion-a-year increase on transportation related fees that would be used to update various freeways and highways in California, such as the I-5 corridor. Fees increases included a $0.12 cents per gallon increase of the gasoline excise tax, a $0.20 cents per gallon increase of the diesel excise tax, a 4 percentage points increase of the diesel sales tax, an annual $25 to $100 Transportation Improvement Fee (TIF) and an annual $100 zero-emission vehicles fee.

The California State Constitution already prohibits Sacramento from using the revenue generated from the diesel and gasoline excise taxes be used on anything other than transportation purpose. Proposition 69 would expand upon this provision by securing two more taxes that had been increased by the Gas Tax, the diesel sales tax and the TIF, as funds that could only go toward transportation-related projects.

Proposition 69 would also exempt the new revenues generated by SB 1 from state and local spending limits.

Proponents of the proposition have said the amendment does not raise taxes, but gives assurance to taxpayers that already established tax revenues are used for their intended purposes.

State Sen. Josh Newman, D-Fullerton, said that there is an “urgency” for repairing transportation and infrastructure in California, but also supports the amendment because the legislature has an obligation to be transparent with state taxpayers.

“(Proposition 69) provides voters with the important assurance that their hard-earned money will be spent in a responsible and fiscally prudent manner,” Fullerton said.

But critics of the ballot measure have argued that this amendment to the Constitution is not only derivative, but would allow unchecked state spending.

“While this may sound assuring even to those who opposed raising the gas tax, the reality is that this ballot measure is all about creating a false sense of security for taxpayers,” said Andrea Seasstrand, president of the Central Coast Taxpayers Association.

State Sen. John Moorlach, R-Costa Mesa, and Assemblymember Frank Bigelow, R-O’Neals, called the bill “insulting” and said by exempting transportation taxes and fees from the spending limit, state spending would “be allowed to grow to levels that otherwise could not be reached.”

If approved, the revenues generated from the diesel sales tax would be place in the Public Transportation Account, which manages mass transportation and rail systems, while the TIF revenue would be used for public transportation streets and highways systems.

For more on Proposition 69, click here to view a series of informational videos that College of the Canyons Political Science Professor Dr. Phil Gussin has published in order to inform voters about the upcoming ballot measures.

Do you have a news tip? Call us at (661) 298-1220, or drop us a line at community@hometownstation.com.

Report a typo or error, email Corrections@hometownstation.com

KHTS FM 98.1 and AM 1220 is Santa Clarita’s only local radio station. KHTS mixes in a combination of news, traffic, sports, and features along with your favorite adult contemporary hits. Santa Clarita news and features are delivered throughout the day over our airwaves, on our website and through a variety of social media platforms. Our KHTS national award-winning daily news briefs are now read daily by 34,000+ residents. A vibrant member of the Santa Clarita community, the KHTS broadcast signal reaches all of the Santa Clarita Valley and parts of the high desert communities located in the Antelope Valley. The station streams its talk shows over the web, reaching a potentially worldwide audience. Follow @KHTSRadio on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.