Signed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with Senate amendments and pass a bill that allows the Los Angles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to place a half-cent sales tax increase referendum on the November 2008 ballot, and extends the ability of the MTA to impose the tax from 6.5 to 30 years.

Highlights:

- Specifies that the tax may only be imposed if the ordinance is approved by two-thirds of the voters [sec. 2 (b) (2)]. - Adds the following projects to the list of capital projects that will be funded by the tax [sec. 1 (c) (1-4)]:

- $200 million Green Line Extension to the Los Angles International Airport; - $780 million Interstate 710 North Gap Closure (tunnel); - $1.27 billion Gold Line Eastside Extension; and - $590 million Interstate 605 Corridor "Hot Spot" Interchanges.

- Increases the amount of revenue from the tax to be used to fund the Metro Gold Line (Pasadina to Claremount) Light Rail Transit Extension from $328 million to $735 million [sec. 2 (b) (3) (A) (iv)]. - Specifies that of the total revenue derived from the tax, MTA's administrative spending is capped at 1.5 percent, allocations for bus operations shall be 20 percent, and allocations for rail operations shall be 5 percent [sec. 2 (b) (3)]. - Deletes the completion deadlines for capital projects funded by the tax [sec. 2 (b) (3)]. - Requires the MTA to specify the completion dates for capital projects in its expenditure plan [sec. 2 (f)]. - Requires the MTA to give a one year notice to legislature if they intend to modify the expenditure plan [sec. 2 (k)].

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that allows the Los Angles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to place a half-cent sales tax increase referendum on the November 2008 ballot, and extends the ability of the MTA to impose the tax from 6.5 to 30 years.

Highlights:

- Specifies that the tax may only be imposed if the ordinance is approved by two-thirds of the voters [sec. 2 (b) (2)]. - Adds the following projects to the list of capital projects that will be funded by the tax [sec. 1 (c) (1-4)]:

- $200 million Green Line Extension to the Los Angles International Airport; - $780 million Interstate 710 North Gap Closure (tunnel); - $1.27 billion Gold Line Eastside Extension; and - $590 million Interstate 605 Corridor "Hot Spot" Interchanges.

- Increases the amount of revenue from the tax to be used to fund the Metro Gold Line (Pasadina to Claremount) Light Rail Transit Extension from $328 million to $735 million [sec. 2 (b) (3) (A) (iv)]. - Specifies that of the total revenue derived from the tax, MTA's administrative spending is capped at 1.5 percent, allocations for bus operations shall be 20 percent, and allocations for rail operations shall be 5 percent [sec. 2 (b) (3)]. - Deletes the completion deadlines for capital projects funded by the tax [sec. 2 (b) (3)]. - Requires the MTA to specify the completion dates for capital projects in its expenditure plan [sec. 2 (f)]. - Requires the MTA to give a one year notice to legislature if they intend to modify the expenditure plan [sec. 2 (k)].

Full Bill Text