Measure H on the June ballot asks you to approve a half-cent sales tax for repairs and maintenance on local roads and streets, and for safety improvements in Jamieson Canyon and at other dangerous locations. You may ask "Why does local government need another source of funds? What about all the other taxes I pay?"

First, it's helpful to know that the majority of our city general fund -- about 55 percent -- goes to police and fire services. Public works, which includes funds for repairs and maintenance of streets, gets about 13 percent of the general fund. The amount we are currently budgeting on streets and roads is about $1.3 million a year from gas tax revenues, and $3.7 million from the general fund. That's $5 million a year for all the streetwork that is needed, from seal coating to structural repair where they dig out and rebuild sections of the roadway. That $5 million also goes to pay for traffic signals, striping and signs, and sidewalks. It covers all the manpower and materials to maintain more than 200 miles of streets in our city.

When you consider that a single project like the upcoming improvements to the intersection of First St. and California Blvd. will cost more than $500,000, you can see that $5 million for the entire city is not enough for our needs. Because there is not enough money to go around, we can't fund the seal coating and structural repair work, so we end up patching potholes. Our estimate is that that actual need is closer to $10 million a year. With adequate funds we can rebuild streets that need it and perform the preventive maintenance work to prevent the potholes from developing. We need Measure H because we need to be more proactive in dealing with our streets and roads.

Some people believe the city has received a windfall from the increase in local property values and the resulting increase in property tax revenues. In fact, most of the property tax goes to schools (65 percent) and the county (22 percent) and the city of Napa only receives about 7 percent of the property taxes you pay. That means if you pay $5,000 in property taxes on your home valued at $500,000, the city gets just $350.

So where has our city money been going? Here are a few investments we have made over the last five years:

* A new fire station in south Napa, which cost $2 million to build and $1 million a year to operate

* An up-to-date 911 dispatch system

* Repairs and pavement overlays on Solano Ave., Lincoln Ave., California Blvd., North Jefferson St., Trower Ave., Shetler Ave., Pinewood Drive, Monroe St. and Patton Ave.

* Sidewalk repair projects in Bel Aire, Westwood, Arboreo and downtown neighborhoods

* Community park improvements in Alta Heights, North Napa, Fuller Park, Kennedy Park, Browns Valley and Westwood

* Upgraded water facilities to increase fire protection and dry year water supply availability

We've also had unexpected costs from the extensive police investigation of the double homicide that occurred in late 2004.

You may recall that before Measure H was put on the ballot, the city was considering its own sales tax measure for street repairs. We chose to support Measure H instead of going out for our own specific needs. We see Measure H as a better solution, providing money for repairs and improvements on highways and county roads we all use, in addition to the money we need for city of Napa streets.

Many people complain about the condition of our streets. During my election I said I would work to get an initiative on the ballot so the citizens could have the opportunity to vote on this important issue for the future of Napa. I heard the citizens say there are some things that are worth paying for, like safer highways and intersections, safer routes to school for our children and grandchildren, and improved transit options for the elderly and disabled. We all have the opportunity to make this a reality by voting yes on Measure H.

(Techel is mayor of Napa.)