Program Strategies

On average, the cost to build one block of new road ranges from $180,000 – $240,000 for concrete and $150,000 – $210,000 for asphalt. The cost to resurface one block of road on average costs anywhere from $20,000 – $30,000. To make our tax dollars stretch further, we use a combination of strategies to repair and lengthen the life of our streets.

The city takes several approaches, including preventive maintenance, major rehabilitation, reconstruction, full depth repairs, and stop-gap measures.

Preventive maintenance – Keeping the good streets good!

Crack sealing and surface seals – this increases the service life of existing pavement.

Major Rehabilitation – Restoring streets to like-new condition

Structural overlays and mill & overlays – significantly improve the life of the pavement.

Reconstruction – Replacing pavement

Complete reconstruction – restores the original service life of the pavement.

Full depth repairs & stop-gap measures

Pothole patching and small-scale full-depth patching projects – addresses localized severe pavement failures.

Street Sales Tax History

– 2011 –

In 2011, voters authorized a ¼ cent sales tax to pay for street improvements for five years.

– 2015 –

In 2015, voters reauthorized this ¼ cent sales tax.

– 2017 –

In 2017, Pittsburg paid off the debt from a ½ cent sales tax that paid for Fire Station #1 and the Law Enforcement Center, causing the tax to expire a year early. The City Commission decided to use a portion of the expiring ½ cent tax to provide additional street maintenance funds, as the state matching funds program had been reduced.

In 2017, voters authorized the additional ¼ cent sales tax, which when combined with the existing ¼ cent sales tax, doubled the city’s annual funding available for street repair. This ¼ cent sales tax passed in 2017 also included a five-year sidewalk improvement program, which allows $50,000 each year to be set aside to, provide a 50-50 match for property owners who wish to build new sidewalks or repair existing ones.

As a result, the city has two (2) separate ¼ cent sales taxes to pay for street repair and maintenance.

– 2020 –

On October 6, 2020, Pittsburg residents voted to combine the two ¼ cent taxes into one ½ cent tax, renewing the sales tax for a period of ten (10)  years and allocating $100,000 each year for sidewalk repair.