Mendocino County supervisors voted 4-1 on Tuesday to add $1 million for road repairs to the proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year, citing the deteriorating condition of local roads.
Supervisors Ted Williams and Madeline Cline introduced the motion, calling it a step toward prioritizing infrastructure needs.
“Taxpayers expect us to give roads focus — and by focus, I mean funding,” said Williams. He added that while the amount was modest, it was meant to highlight the growing problem.
Supervisor Cline echoed the urgency, describing frequent complaints from residents about vehicle damage and poor road conditions.
I can't tell you how often I get a text message, a picture of a broken axle.. We all know the conditions of the roads,” Cline said. “This is an important discussion for the board. Our current strategy isn’t enough.”
According to Howard Dashiell, the county’s transportation director, it would take $700 million to bring Mendocino’s roads up to the standard of state highways.
“You can go to localstreetsandroads.org and see our scores — we’re in the bottom 10. We have been for the 20 years I’ve been here,” Dashiell said.
He presented three options for how the additional $1 million could be spent:
- Adding mileage to an existing project in Hopland.
- Funding several smaller projects in various locations.
- Allocating money to county road crews for targeted patchwork in the worst areas.
Dashiell acknowledged that the third option, which would distribute funds across all seven county road yards, was a shift from traditional pavement preservation but could allow for more localized improvements.
Supervisor Mo Mulheren favored the third option, saying it could help address trouble spots like Vichy Springs Road, and West and East Roads and Potter Valley.
The board’s broader discussion was shaped by a looming $17 million projected budget deficit created by a combination of stagnant revenues and promised pay raises.
Supervisor John Haschak voted against the motion, citing fiscal constraints.
“We’ve been talking all morning about not having money, about a hard hiring freeze, about severe cuts,” Haschak said. “I just don’t see a million bucks coming out of thin air.”
The motion also sparked conversation about long-term funding options, including the potential for a dedicated local sales tax to support road repairs. Haschak noted that cities like Fort Bragg, Willits, and Ukiah already have similar measures.
“If we were to have a sales tax for roads, we’d be a self-help county — and that would bring in more state dollars,” he said.
Public comment included alternative funding ideas, such as increasing airport landing fees and improving property tax collection. One speaker even floated the idea of using asset forfeiture funds, citing the sheriff’s recent purchase of an armored vehicle with $469,00 of such funds.
County Counsel said the idea would be explored. Williams added that even if forfeiture money couldn’t directly fund roads, it could potentially offset other expenses, freeing up general funds.
