Dear editor,

No one should sign a contract unless he or she has read it carefully and feels comfortable about understanding it. Voters should be wary of what they say. Get to the actual wording. Measure H is 16 pages of legal gobbledygook! Reading by a layperson reveals much that "may" be done, but little that "will" be done. Sixteen pages cannot be translated easily into politically attractive phrases -- safe roads and fixed potholes. An intelligent person knows roads will not be "safe" as long as there are drivers who are drunk, tired, distracted or speeding, regardless of how good the roads are. Fixing potholes is temporary at best. Next year's rain will break down roads again.

The Napa Valley Transportation Authority is a new layer of government consisting of two members from the city councils of each of the five cities and two members of the board of supervisors. It was formed to have complete control over how the money received will be apportioned among the projects to be done. It also has the power to sell bonds (get a loan) without further approval by voters or city councils. That loan will have to be repaid with interest. Debt service requirements shall be met prior to allocating revenues for other purposes.

Page five of the measure states, "Of the annual revenues available, 27.87 percent shall be allocated for major highway congestion relief and safety projects specified below ... total estimated funding is $150 million."

Now, if I read this correctly, the "projects below" include:

* Jamieson Canyon -- everything from median barrier, straighten curves, turn lanes, ridge trail crossing, widen to four lanes plus a class two bike lane

* Airport Exchange -- highways 12 and 29 "including any necessary appurtenant facilities..."

* Soscol Flyover -- highways 12 and 29 and 221 "and related interchange improvements."

All this for $150 million? The NVTA sees to the extent feasible funding will be sought from federal, state and other local funding sources. What are the chances of that? The flood control project has been slowed, I think, because funds ran out.

A few other points are if the measure passes in Napa County but Solano's Measure H doesn't, only half of Jamieson Canyon Road may be improved. Often, the backup on Jamieson Canyon is caused by a backup on Highway 80. Sales tax is regressive. The increase on a pair of shoes could be crucial to those on low incomes. The increase on a new car will be noticeable to anyone. The measure says the dollar amounts mentioned are -- and will continue to be -- expressed in 2004 dollars. Children now in kindergarten will be paying this tax -- at inflated costs.

Margaret Naughton

Napa