If you’ve driven anywhere in Sacramento County lately, you’ve probably noticed the same thing I have: our roads are in rough shape. Potholes, cracks, and worn pavement have become the norm instead of the exception. The truth is that the condition of our county’s road network has continued to decline — and unless we act, it’s only going to get worse.
Right now, Sacramento County’s average Pavement Condition Index, or PCI, is just 41 out of 100. That is considered poor by engineering standards, meaning many of our roads are approaching the point where simple maintenance is no longer enough. Our backlog of deferred road repairs is now estimated at more than one billion dollars, more than double what it was less than a decade ago.
In Sacramento County, we’ve done what we can with the tools we have. For several years, the County has dedicated about $20 million annually from its General Fund to road repair — a significant commitment that few other counties make. As I’ve settled into this role and spent time in our communities, I’ve also seen how Citrus Heights is investing its own General Fund dollars into local road improvements and taking an entrepreneurial approach that stretches every dollar further.
This commitment has delivered real, visible progress in recent years. Still, without a dedicated funding source, both the County and most cities face an uphill battle. Communities with local sales tax measures, such as Elk Grove and Rancho Cordova, are moving ahead more quickly, while others must continue stretching limited resources to keep pace.
Part of the reason we’re here is because the gas tax and vehicle fees people already pay are not keeping pace with rising costs and declining state and federal funding. When the most recent state gas tax increase was passed in 2017, it was promoted as the solution that would finally fix our roads. The public messaging was convincing, but the actual measure told a different story.
Even before it passed, the previous County Supervisor for this district warned that it would only cover a small portion of our road maintenance needs — and that our PCI would continue to decline. Unfortunately, that warning proved correct.
The revenues from that gas tax helped slow the decline for a few years, but they were never enough to reverse it. Meanwhile, the state’s distribution formulas have shifted funding toward statewide priorities and larger metropolitan centers, leaving counties like ours to fend for ourselves. At the same time, construction costs have skyrocketed, and as more residents switch to electric vehicles, gas tax revenues continue to fall.
That’s why I’ve asked County staff to bring forward a proposal for the Board of Supervisors to consider: a small, time-limited sales tax that would be used only to repair existing roads in unincorporated Sacramento County — nothing else. This would likely be a half-cent or smaller increase for up to ten years, overseen by a citizen advisory committee to ensure every dollar is spent as promised.
Unlike past proposals that spread money across unrelated projects such as buses, bike lanes, or light rail, this plan would be narrow, transparent, and entirely focused on the issue residents care about most — fixing the roads we already have.
People tell me all the time that they would support a tax if it actually went to fixing the roads. This proposal is exactly that. It would finally allow us to fully address the backlog and restore Sacramento County’s roads to a level of quality that residents expect and deserve.
We cannot keep waiting for someone else to fix this. Either we make the investment now, or we allow the problem to grow more expensive every year. I believe residents are ready for a straightforward plan they can trust — one that delivers visible, measurable results.
If you’d like to share your thoughts or learn more about this proposal, please reach out to my office at (916) 874-5491 or email SupervisorRodriguez@saccounty.gov. Together, we can make sure Sacramento County’s roads are safe, reliable, and something we can all be proud of again.
Rosario Rodriguez authored this community commentary. Rodriguez is the Sacramento County District 4 Supervisor, which includes the communities of Folsom, Citrus Heights Orangevale, Antelope, Rio Linda, Elverta, Gold River, Rancho Murieta, North Highlands, Carmichael, Foothill Farms, and Fair Oaks.
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