Voters approved several long-term measures to increase local sales taxes for public construction and operations on Nov. 8.

Los Angeles and San Diego voters each approved measures to raise the sales tax rate ½-cent in 2017 to generate $120 billion and $18 billion, respectively, over 40 years. New Jersey voters approved a ballot that would require the recent 23-cent gas tax increase to be dedicated completely to transportation funding.

In Los Angeles, construction would begin on $2.5 billion each in 2018 and 2019 on projects including local street improvements. Spending in San Diego would include transit and road projects.

Atlanta-area voters approved varying amounts of sales tax increases for expanding and improving mass transit and other transportation.

Numerous local bond issues authorizing $500 million or more passed.

California

• $3.5 billion for the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit Authority;

• $3.3 billion for the Los Angeles Community College District (CCD);

• a $1.2 billion city homeless bond plan in Los Angeles;

• $750 million each for the Chino Valley and San Juan Unified School Districts (USDs);

• $748 million for the San Jose–Evergreen CCD;

• $510 million for the East Side Union High School District around San Jose;

• $744 million for the San Francisco USD;

• $600 million to improve infrastructure and build affordable housing in Oakland;

• $580 million to build affordable housing in surrounding Alameda County;

• $578 million for renovation and expansion of College of the Desert in Riverside County;

• $503 for Kern CCD

• $9 billion for K-12 schools and community colleges

Texas

• $720 million for transportation and mobility projects in Austin;

• $669 million for the El Paso Independent School District;

• $500 million to help build a new stadium for the Texas Rangers baseball club in Arlington.

Ohio

• $950 million, largely for utilities improvement, street and highway projects.

Colorado

• Denver, School District (SD) 1 received $572 million of bond authorization, but Jefferson Co. SD R-1, Colo., failed to get approval for $535 million in bonds.

For more information on local ballot issues, contact AGC's Brian Lenihan, [email protected].

Voters in four states approved 11 statewide bond issues that will fund building, transportation and environmental construction.

New Mexico

• $142 million in bonds for higher education, special, and tribal schools

• $15 million for senior facility bonds and $18 million in public safety infrastructure improvements

Rhode Island

• $45 million in bonds for higher education. Rhode Island also passed $182 million in bonds for veterans housing, affordable housing, port infrastructure, and environmental projects

North Carolina

• $2 billion in public improvement bonds, mostly schools and higher education

In contrast, voters in Massachusetts rejected a new slots-only casino facility license, and New Jersey rejected two new casinos. Maine approved $100 million in new transportation bonds, while Illinois, Louisiana and New Jersey voters approved measures to dedicate funds for transportation.

For more information on state ballot issues, contact AGC's Scott Berry, [email protected].

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