SamTrans, the county’s transit district, is the managing agency for Caltrain — meaning it oversees the bulk of administrative and operational duties.
The San Mateo County Transportation Authority projects higher revenue and a $8.5 million surplus for the coming fiscal year, which it plans to use toward new programs and marketing campaigns.
The anticipated surplus for fiscal year 2027, which starts in July, is lower than the surplus projected in the current fiscal year’s adopted budget, though Budgets Manager Cleo Liao said that’s largely a result of plans to increase investment in other strategic initiatives.
“For Fiscal Year 2027, total sources are projected at $213.5 million, which is about $7 million higher than last year. This increase is primarily driven by the sales tax,” Liao said during a recent TA board meeting. “We are expecting modest economic recovery.”
Total expenses are projected at $205 million.
The investment boosts are going to a few different efforts, including the Technical Assistance Program, a new initiative that helps cities with grant applications and project development, as well as the 101 Corridor Connect, which provides small grants for multimodal projects along the highway.
The draft budget also allocated $100,000 for marketing, though some board members voiced support for increasing that by $400,000, conditioned on certain types of initiatives.
“I think it is important for this entity to make sure that we are getting out the message of what we’re doing, how well we’re doing it, and where we’re doing it, irrespective of a future bond measure,” Board Member Carlos Romero, also a member of the East Palo Alto City Council, said during the meeting.
The TA doesn’t operate its own transit agency but rather allocates funding, mostly through the Measure A and W sales taxes, to local jurisdictions and agencies. The TA is also increasing spending on an initiative to reauthorize Measure A to $2.5 million, which would go toward polling and outreach work ahead of a possible 2028 ballot measure to renew the countywide sales tax before it expires in 2033.
The budget will be finalized and adopted by the board in June.
(650) 344-5200 ext. 102
Daily Journal staff
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(3) comments
Folks, here we have another example of what happens when a government organization has a surplus. There’s no talk or mention of fiscal management. Instead, they’ll waste the surplus. They’ll use some of the money for consultants to see if they should propose more taxes (no surprise – they will) and waste more on frivolous expenditures. Speaking of frivolous, do we need this TA? All they do is hand out money. Anyone can do that. I’m sure some retired contributors at the Daily Journal would do it for free. I’d do it for 10% of the existing cost of this TA (how much is being wasted on this TA)?
Vote NO on any tax proposals. Otherwise you may end up with the Transportation Authority handing out comic books to folks waiting for public transportation or free diapers, infant or otherwise). Or handing out iPads to commuters, similar to Newsom giving iPads bought with your money to prisoners. And guess what some of these prisoners are using iPads for? Likely the first thing that comes to mind.
Terrance means well, but he doesn’t sound well informed as to what the TA exists to do: which is to collect, administer, and oversee the allocation & distribution of the various transportation related revenues from existing voter approved sales taxes such as Measures A & W. They ensure the funds are awarded to projects, agencies and cities appropriately and consistent with the language of those measures. That includes vetting and ranking project proposals seeking funding for merit and value … also to ensure the funds are equitably and fairly distributed across the county consistent with the percentage and purpose allocations promised to the voters in the tax measures.
Hey Reality Czech, the article doesn’t say anything about collecting revenue, only allocating (i.e. handing out) money. Are you saying these folks personally go out and collect these sales taxes? I highly doubt it. And are you saying the listed and potentially frivolous use of taxpayer funds listed here were directly approved in measures? I doubt that, too.
My original assertions stand. Vote NO on any tax proposals because again, we can see there is no effort at fiscal management. These folks will spend the surplus on pet projects, ignore ongoing costs, run up a deficit, cry to taxpayers, and propose another tax measure. Rinse and repeat. Meanwhile, your hard-earned money is wasted on bureaucracy and pet projects and again, paying for a TA which is likely not needed. BTW, since you’re “well informed” how much taxpayer funds are being used to support the entire TA organization? And isn't this taking away from funds that are "equitably and fairly distributed across the county"? Seems to me this additional and burdensome TA bureaucracy should be dissolved.
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