The County of Monterey decides how to spend a new source of revenue.

Erik Chalhoub here, looking at the language voters were presented with in November 2024 for Measure AA.

The 1-percent sales tax increase in unincorporated Monterey County passed with a slight majority, 53.33 percent, and the language is fairly broad. It’s intended to “fund critical County of Monterey services” such as public safety, emergency services, programs to reduce homelessness, parks and more.

But it first mentions “street maintenance and pothole repair,” which was one of the major points being promoted during election season. Anyone who’s driven on the roads in the unincorporated county knows this is needed.

Since the tax went into effect April 2025, there’s money to spend. Some of those funds were already allocated during last year’s budget process, including $1.5 million to support body cameras for the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, $50,000 to support initiatives led by ag tech startup The Reservoir and $50,000 to support Regenerative California’s blue economy and fisheries programs.

Now that more money’s in the bank, a larger set of projects have been recommended by a committee made up of Supervisors Glenn Church and Chris Lopez, the first such list to be drafted. The Board of Supervisors are set to consider the plan tomorrow, Tuesday, Feb. 3.

According to the list, the projects consist of $5.6 million toward road work across the unincorporated county, including a mile of Vierra Canyon Road in Prunedale, a section of Bradley Road in South County, as well as San Benancio Road outside of Salinas, among other roads.

Parks are also on the list, including playground upgrades at Royal Oaks and Toro parks, along with a permanent bathroom at the popular entrance to Fort Ord National Monument at Gigling Road and 8th Avenue near Seaside, and disc golf equipment at four unspecified parks.

The recommended projects also include funds toward a battery energy storage system ordinance, housing element implementation and fire preparedness initiatives.

In all, the county has $9.7 million to spend, according to a county staff report, with the listed projects estimated at $9.5 million.

“We asked for projects that would be visible infrastructure improvements, focusing primarily on public works and parks,” Church says.

He adds that clearer direction on future projects is expected at the next board meeting.

“I expect considerably more infrastructure projects will occur in the northern part of the county with future funding,” Church says.

Voters also expect to see their tax dollars at work, so they’ll need a little more patience as things go through the process before the shovels hit the ground.