Assemblywoman Anna Caballero (D-Salinas), who represents California in the state legislature, this week cast her vote in support of SB 1, a $52 billion transportation bill that raises the gas tax and adds new vehicle fees to fund transportation-related projects in California. The bill is expected to generate approximately $3.5 million annually for San Benito County, $12.4 million for Santa Cruz County, $18.4 million for Monterey County and $62.1 million for Santa Clara County.
SB 1 funds — brought in by a 12-cent hike in the gas excise tax to 30 cents a gallon, a diesel excise gas increase to 36 cents a gallon from the current 20 cents a gallon, and a 4 percent hike in the diesel sales tax — are meant to be used for existing road repairs, bridge repair and maintenance, transit operations, capital improvements, congested commute corridors, trade corridors, and freeway service patrols.
"The passage of SB1 is truly monumental," Caballero said in a statement released by her office. "While it was a difficult vote to take for many members, there is no question that our roads are failing and full of potholes, and our bridges are in desperate need of repairs. SB1 will bring millions of dollars to all of our cities and counties and bring hundreds of good paying jobs to our district to fix much needed infrastructure."
Caballero, who was elected in 2016, is the chair of the Assembly's Agriculture Committee of the California State Assembly. The 30th District that she represents is composed of the Salinas Valley, parts of Monterey and San Benito counties, South Santa Clara County, and the city of Watsonville.