The future of Santa Barbara County's street, road and transportation systems will be in the hands of voters on Nov. 7.

County officials are seeking renewal of Measure D, which voters first approved in 1989, and which has provided about $350 million over the years for better streets, roads and transit systems. The renewal amounts to keeping the half-cent sales tax that has been in effect since 1989, plus adding another 1/4-cent, both of which will be on the books for another 30 years.

A renewal of the modified Measure D would generate nearly $1.6 billion during the life of the tax, all of which would be used to improve roads and to figure out better ways to move greater numbers of people around the county - without the rush-hour traffic jams that are endemic in the southern part of the county, and growing increasingly so here in the North County.

One of the questions you may hear in the weeks approaching the election is why the county needs a special tax to support road maintenance and transportation projects, when the state will have on the same ballot a measure to raise billions for the same purposes statewide. In fact, Santa Barbara County's share of that statewide bond would amount to, at the very most, about $200 million, and it could easily turn out to be a third that much.

No, if county voters want better roads and better transit systems, we need to make the arrangements ourselves. Depending on state government for financial help has, in the past, proven to be an extremely chancy proposition.

The first Measure D has not been perfect, and the renewed version has some potential drawbacks as well. But few governmental initiatives are perfect. This one at least raises a great deal of money, and lists specific categories of projects on which the money is to be spent.

What's truly remarkable is that a broad cross-section of governmental and community leaders have reached agreement on this measure, which has huge implications for every community in the county. Santa Maria is due to receive $173.5 million in renewed Measure D funds; Lompoc, $83.5 million; Guadalupe, $13.7 million; and Buellton and Solvang, a combined $22.3 million.

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Most of the opposition seems to be based on pure politics, strong anti-government feelings or an unwillingness to compromise.

No one likes taxes, but the fact is Measure D offers voters a chance to approve a tax with confidence and knowledge about how the dollars will be spent. Measure D will allow for improvements to our roadway infrastructure, allowing cities and the county to keep pace with road repair and maintenance needs. It also will give a boost to mass transit projects that inevitably must be a part of our transportation future.

The issues with Measure D are simple: If you want road construction to keep pace with population and traffic growth, if you want potholes repaired and roads maintained before they deteriorate further, if you want expanded mass-transit service, you should support this tax on Nov. 7.

And if you decide to vote against it, you should understand that congestion will increase, as our road system will not be expanded. Many streets and highways will go unrepaired and deteriorate further. Mass transit will not be expanded to meet the growing needs.

Some folks point to Sacramento and assert that expanding roads - particularly state highways and freeways - is a state responsibility and therefore should be paid for by the state. We don't necessarily disagree, but given the state's history of budget problems, looking to the state for the fix is heading down a road to nowhere.

Measure D has worked for the past 17 years - perhaps not perfectly, but it has worked. The citizens of Santa Barbara County would be well-served to approve this renewal.

Aug. 27, 2006