If 500 year protection continues to play a role, though it’s still too small of a one, in our region’s planning, then getting to it in steps is fine.
March vote approved for flood assessment
$326 million would be raised for capital-area levee and dam projects.
By Deb Kollars - Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:00 am PST Friday, February 16, 2007
The Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency board of directors on Thursday unanimously agreed to ask voters to approve a new property tax assessment for greater flood safety.
The election, which is designed to raise $326 million over 30 years, will not use the traditional ballot box approach. Instead, a weighted mail ballot system will be employed, with ballots going out starting March 2.
"This is the No. 1 public safety issue in Sacramento," said Sacramento Mayor Heather Fargo, who also sits on the board of the flood control agency, known as SAFCA.
The assessment would pay for the local share of what it would cost to provide a much higher level of flood protection for Sacramento. The total price tag, $2.68 billion, would be largely paid by federal and state sources.
"This is an investment of about 10 cents on the dollar to avoid a catastrophe," said Roger Dickinson, a Sacramento County supervisor and SAFCA trustee. "That's a deal you can't pass up."
Proceeds from the assessment, if supported by a majority of the weighted votes cast, would pay for work on levees on the American and Sacramento rivers and other waterways, as well as improvements to Folsom Dam.
The work, which would take at least 10 years, would provide Sacramento with 200-year flood protection. Currently the city has 100-year protection (and even less in some areas), making Sacramento the most flood-vulnerable large city in America. One-hundred-year protection means levees are expected to withstand huge storms with a 1-in-100 chance of happening in any given year.
