San Mateo County Transportation Authority plans to use surplus to boost investment in new programs

“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.