Different views of what that is in debate over road tax

Arguments on both sides of Stanislaus County's transportation ballot measure focus on "bad."

Measure S supporters say the road tax is the last, best hope for fixing really bad streets and easing bad traffic.

Critics contend all new taxes are bad and leaders who have behaved badly can't be trusted with the proceeds, especially in a bad economy.

Can multiple negatives add up to a positive?

"It seems a matter of everyone holding their nose because there just isn't any better game in town," concludes Jack Heinsius, a Modesto Junior College economics instructor.

For the second time in two years, Stanislaus County voters are faced with raising their sales tax by a half-cent -- a bump to 7.875 percent for most of the county -- to benefit mostly road projects. That's 5 cents more on an item costing $10, 50 cents for $100 and so on.

Measure K in 2006 captured 57.92 percent of the vote -- a clear majority, but not enough to meet the two-thirds standard in California. Back then, officials with the Stanislaus Council of Governments dictated a 30-year spending plan and pushed forward despite Oakdale's cold feet.

This time, leaders in all nine cities and the county joined to push a 20-year tax increase predicted to raise $700 million, and each agency developed its own spending plan. Private sector champions are reaching out to community organizations, appearing at some 40 presentations. And they're walking precincts, often joined by elected officeholders during their off-hours.

"It's completely different" this year, county Supervisor Jeff Grover said.

Supporters prefer pitching the positives that could come from Measure S:

Safer streets and better access for public safety

Local control of the proceeds

Unanimous support from all agencies

Better chance at attracting companies and jobs

Leveraging matching state and federal funds

Nineteen of California's 58 counties have transportation taxes. None are looking back, officials say.

A recent independent study revealed that spending flexibility in so-called self-help counties allows delivery of promised road projects much faster by letting them turn to the private sector instead of relying on the California Department of Transportation.

Bee research shows voters who witness the results from transportation taxes are far and away more likely to renew such a tax or approve another. For example, "yes" votes in Fresno County jumped from 57.5 percent in 1986, when a simple majority sufficed, to 77 percent in 2006.

Measure S supporters somehow converted the Stanislaus County Republican Central Committee, previously vociferous in tax attacks. Supporters also established campaign committees in each of the 10 agencies. Members include notorious conservatives such as Supervisor Jim DeMartini and Turlock's Pat Shade.

And they lined up popular figures such as Modesto entrepreneur Dan Costa.

"We're taxed to death," conceded Shade, a GOP leader for more than four decades. "I've watched government take taxes and blow it in 14 different directions. But I do know, traveling around highways here, that we need help. Since they've designated only 1 percent for (administrative) overhead, and no one else can take the money, I said OK."

Half of the tax, or $350 million, would go to neighborhood roads throughout the county to fix potholes, widen streets and strengthen bridges. The remaining amount would help build major east-west corridors in the north, central and south parts of the county. All are spelled out, more or less, in a thick spending plan.