More than three-quarters of the respondents to our Feb. 2, 2012 online poll felt that Sonoma County roads were in poor shape.
Only 3.1 percent thought county roads were in good shape, while 7.8 percent said the roads are in average condition.
When asked if they thought the county was spending enough money on road maintenance, 87.5 percent said no, 4.7 percent said yes and 7.8 percent had no opinion.
Respondents were also asked if they would be willing to pay more in property and sales taxes for road improvements. The answer was primarily no (68.8 percent). Nearly 30 percent said they were willing to pay more, while 3.1 percent had no opinion.
Here are some of the comments by those who responded to the survey:
——
“Funding schools, healthcare, clean water and parks before spending more on roads is a priority for my city and society. When the economy comes back and when taxpayers want to pay extra for services, then the roads will be repaired.”
——
“I am not willing to pay any more in taxes until the government, be that local, state or federal, stops wasting money on things it does not need to do. There is a big difference between want and need. In this economy, the only thing our elected officials should be spending money on are things that are needs, not their pet projects or political paybacks.”
——
“If the money collected from gas taxes and other county taxes for this purpose were actually used for what they were intended, perhaps our roads would be in better condition. Our lawmakers need to do better at managing our money we send them. They seem to forget it is our money, not theirs.”
——
“If they would have kept up the maintenance over the years, our roads would not be in the shape they are now. Like all other departments they spent the money they received badly. These folks have nobody to blame but themselves.”
——
“I spend enough on taxes. You give them more they just waste more. Learn how to budget like we have to. If we can’t get by one month we don’t get more money, we just somehow make it. Stop saying you need more from taxpayers!”
for the road maintenance will want to restrict access. This needs to be countywide.”
——
“I understand the county/various cities are short on funds, but these roads are a complete joke. Maintaining infrastructure should be one of local government’s main focuses along with law enforcement. If neighboring counties/cities are able to maintain roads, why can’t ours? Stop building little used parks and worthless art structures and fix our roads!”
——
“The county roads are in deplorable condition. For years, the politicians and bureaucrats have been diverting gasoline tax and vehicle registration license fees away from road maintenance to pay for their pet social programs. No to higher gasoline, property or sales taxes. California residents are already among the highest taxed in the nation!”
——
“There are enough taxes paid for road improvement that the county uses for other things. What makes you think that more new taxes would not be business as usual?”
——
“There is no doubt that until our elected officials tackle the pension problem, everything will deteriorate. Don’t look for any changes in the near future as the unions have the elected officials by the ‘bippy.’”
——
“The roads are beat for sure, but I just can’t handle more property taxes. I’m maxed out already with the parcel taxes levied for schools. With a sales tax you have some control — the less you buy the less you spend in sales tax.”
——
“Too easy for everyone to attach these type things on the property owners for parcel tax. It’s hard enough to pay the current taxes and the mortgage. No deep pockets here, look somewhere else for all of your easy fixes. Citizens with self interests are even on the bandwagon.”
——
“Two thoughts. Pay more taxes to fix the roads? Stop siphoning off monies already voted for road improvement to establish bike lanes. Once that is done and guaranteed the money would go to pavement and guardrails then yes I would pay more. My dentist is happy to have the extra work fixing loose fillings, my mechanic is happy to replace my worn shocks and steering components and the tire shop is happy to sell me new tires every year.”
——
“We are stretched to the brink and don’t have a cent extra to give anyone. Everyone has their hand out. Stop wasting money on cobblestones, stupid sculptures and a train to nowhere. Petaluma isn’t Mill Valley and it never will be no matter how hard you try to scrub off the smell of cow dung. The government is begining to look more like agressive panhandlers than a governing body. Keep your hands out of my pockets and stop wasting money. Get it together.”
——
“We pay enough property taxes, sales taxes, gasoline taxes, school taxes, county/city taxes. Enough is enough. No jobs, people have lost their homes, People are on fixed incomes and where do they go to get a pay increase? This county/city spends our money foolishly, lets have another committee, let’s have another lawsuit, let’s build another park that can’t be maintained! Stay on budget!”
——
“You can always tell when you are crossing from Marin County into Sonoma. The potholes, pavement splits and ruts begin immediately. Real rough on motorcyclists and bike riders. Preventive maintenance rather than allowing the roads to fall apart prior to fixing might help.”
——
“You can thank whoever voted in a county Board of Supervisors majority over the past 25 years that doesn’t care about the needs of the average person for the appalling condition of our county roads. I didn’t and wouldn’t vote for any of them. The county gets money from taxes on gasoline. Where is that all going? Obviously not to county road repair and maintenance. At least it’s not evenly distributed in any way evident by many beautiful county roads in the south county.”