San Luis Obispo County has an opportunity on the horizon that is both practical and transformational for our region: a proposed self-help sales tax measure focused solely on funding transportation, including sidewalks, streets, bike lanes, highways and transit services.
At its core, this upcoming ballot measure is about leverage and opportunity. San Luis Obispo County consistently struggles to compete for state and federal transportation dollars because we lack one critical ingredient: a dedicated local funding source. Many of the most competitive transportation grants require a reliable local match. Without it, projects are delayed, or never happen at all.
To put this into perspective, if the previous self-help sales tax measure, Measure J, had passed back in 2016, it’s estimated that SLO County would have received roughly $700 million in additional transportation funding over the past 10 years. That’s $700 million in roadway improvements, safety projects and regional connectivity that never materialized because Measure J failed to pass by less than one percent of the vote. Passing a half-cent sales tax measure in November 2026 would open the door to that same scale of investment moving forward and allow us to compete on equal footing with our neighboring counties that already have self-help sales taxes in place and have been using those funds to advance major projects for years.
What’s important to understand is that our self-help sales tax-funded transportation projects would be determined by local priorities, not from Sacramento, giving each city and unincorporated area access to funding based on their needs in addition to funding dedicated for larger regional projects. Strong accountability measures will ensure transparency and that funds are used exactly as promised. Projects will result in an infusion of vital construction and engineering revenue, and oversight is provided by existing government staff, meaning any job growth would be in the private sector.
Those dollars would translate into real, visible improvements that our local jurisdictions would choose to prioritize. That means better-maintained streets that reduce wear and tear on vehicles and delivery fleets, safer routes for students, seniors and employees commuting to work, expanded pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure that supports vibrant downtowns, and stronger connections between our cities, job centers and visitor destinations—based on local needs, not a one-size-fits-all approach.
From a fairness standpoint, this proposal is also carefully structured. Essential purchases like groceries, healthcare, and housing are exempt. And the sales tax captures contributions from non-residents—visitors who rely on our roads, highways, and infrastructure every day. As a major tourist destination, shared responsibility is critical.
A citizens’ committee has formed to place this measure on the November 3 ballot. Ballot measures coming from “the people” pass with 50 percent plus one of votes, rather than the much higher two-thirds threshold required if local government places it on the ballot. The citizens’ committee has a significant task ahead: collecting more than 12,000 valid signatures from registered voters across SLO County.
Signature gathering will begin in February and continue through April, and you can expect to see people out in the community—at events, in neighborhoods, and potentially near your places of business—asking for support.
So, what can you do? Learn more about this issue as the campaign unfolds over the coming weeks. Spread the word of this meaningful opportunity with your friends, employees, and customers so hundreds of millions of dollars don’t slip away again. Learn more at the official website: Better Roads For All San Luis Obispo County. Here you can donate, request a petition to help get signatures and learn more. Sign the petition to place this message on the ballot and VOTE!
This measure is not about short-term fixes. It’s about positioning San Luis Obispo County for long-term success—economically, competitively, and sustainably.
Want to learn more about why the Chamber is in support of this? Check out our FAQs.