City of Monterey officials warn streets will degrade if Measure S fails.

First approved in 2014, Measure S, formerly Measure P, is a 1-percent sales tax to fund street, sidewalk, storm drain and ADA repairs and improvements in the City of Monterey. Slated to expire March 31, 2027, it is up for an eight-year renewal this November. Monterey Public Works Director Andrea Renny stresses how important the tax revenue is to maintain critical infrastructure.

“A brand-new street has a Pavement Condition Index of 100,” Renny says. “If you’re able to maintain it, you spend a lot less money and you’re expanding the life of the street. Before Measure P/S, we were at [PCI] 54, which is at risk of failing. Our streets were in very poor condition. After Measure P/S, for the past 12 years, we went from a pavement condition index of 54 to 79.”

Renny points out that a PCI of 79 is better than about 90 percent of Bay Area cities. But without the funding, which is roughly $12 million per year, she expects that score will ultimately drop.

“What we’ll see is that the index is going to degrade from 79 over the years without that continuous maintenance,” Renny predicts.

Measure S funding has provided $6 million for storm drain pipes, pump stations and channel upgrades – more than 1,000 repaired and rehabilitated street segments – $7.5 million in sidewalk repairs and has been used for 375 ADA-compliant curb ramp installations, among other improvements and repairs.

According to the argument against the initiative, filed by Monterey resident Lori Mazzuca, homeowners are frustrated that they are still responsible for the cost of repairing sidewalks adjoining their property when Measure S funds are intended to fund sidewalk repairs along with streets, storm drains and ADA improvements.