Does Sponsored Content Suggest Another Tax Push For the Southeast Connector?
Is another Elk Grove sales tax hike in the works to benefit Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen's political patrons?
Another Elk Grove sales tax hike in the works?
In recent days, a social media-sponsored content video appeared in my feed. The analytics worked because the video caught my attention and was viewed.
The video, which can be viewed below, provides an interesting history of proposed highways around the Sacramento region that never came to fruition. While the video was worth watching for its historical information, in our interpretation, it served another purpose, as it was clearly marked as sponsored content.
One way to view the video is as a way to promote funding for the real estate developer's desperately sought Southeast Connector. Billed as a freeway connecting Elk Grove to El Dorado Hills, roughly following Grant Line Road (with several traffic-light-controlled intersections already), the video suggested it is needed for future growth in southeastern Sacramento County.
Another way to view the video is as a way to lay the groundwork for another countywide sales tax increase by the Sacramento Transportation Authority (STA). Even though voters have defeated two multi-billion-dollar sales tax hikes from the STA in the last 10 years, the multi-jurisdictional agency, at the behest of real estate developers who fund the STA board members, continues to explore tax hikes.
In both of those failed efforts, the Southeast Connector would have been the prime beneficiary. A broad coalition of Sacramento County voters, across the political spectrum, did not buy what the STA was selling.
As suggested in the video, could Elk Grove Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen and her city council, along with elected officials in other developer-driven jurisdictions, seek another Elk Grove exclusive sales tax hike to fund the roads their real estate developer political patrons need for their plans?
Given the visibility and volatility of the affordability issue in poltics at every level of the game going into the 2026 elections, would Mayor Singh-Allen, much less the STA directors, seek such a tax increase in this political environment?
Probably not in 2026 if they have any sense of the political climate, so they'll likely wait until 2028. Then again, never underestimate the arrogance of elected officials, especially when they are doing the bidding of their developer patrons.
