The Stanislaus Council of Governments proposed an Expenditure Plan based on a 25-year, half-cent sales tax measure for consideration by voters on the November 2016 ballot.

The tax is aimed at fixing neighborhood streets across all of Stanislaus County and if it were to pass on the November ballot, it would bring $960 million or approximately $38 million per year.

At the June 15 StanCOG Policy Board meeting, a request to approve the half cent tax increase to be included on the November ballot was passed unanimously.

With 50 percent of the revenue funds designated for local control going towards local streets and roads, the City of Ceres is gearing up to begin numerous projects to help repair ailing city streets.

The remaining 50 percent of funds generated from this half cent tax increase will go towards regional projects, which are described as being used for planning, project development, right-of-way and/or construction of major corridor, capital projects by the Expenditure Plan.
The next step in order for the tax measure to appear on the November ballot requires the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors approving the proposal during their meeting June 28.

It is up to each city within Stanislaus County to decide whether or not to adopt the expenditure plan for their respective city. The only remaining cities left to vote on the measure are Waterford, Oakdale and Patterson.