Santa Cruz County Roads

I wanted to share an email I posted on 95033Talk from Santa Cruz County Supervisor Manu Koenig last month about county roads. Supervisor Koenig shared that the Santa Cruz County budget for fiscal year 2025/2026 included $3.5 million for county roads from the general fund. While this is an improvement from previous years, it’s still not enough to meet basic maintenance needs.

Due to rising supply costs and flat gas-tax revenues (the main source of maintenance funding), this year’s allocation only covers about 70 percent of what’s needed. That means fewer potholes filled, less repaving, fewer culvert repairs, and less ditch cleaning than in the years before the 2023 storms.

Money from the county’s general fund isn’t the only source of road funding. Other Dog Fence Solutions Wired or Wireless? Troy Dykes For over 25 years, we’ve been installing DogWatch Hidden Fences locally and throughout the greater Bay Area. These wired systems involve burying a boundary wire around a property that sends digital signaling to a receiver collar worn by the family dog. If a dog pushes its property limits, the collar issues a vibration, warning sound, and a varying degree of static-charge correction. This training tool is extremely reliable in keeping dogs within their own yards or properties.

Some properties in the mountains have rough terrain, heavy scrub brush, or poison oak that make for tedious and costly wire installation. So, we are glad to now offer a Mike Scherer Broker Owner 23111 Santa Cruz Hwy 17 Los Gatos 95033 Mike@MountainMike.com 408-353-6453 PROPERTIESPROPERTIES Veteran Owned 27 Years Selling 95033 Check our reviews on Google and Yelp!

wireless solution. SkyShepherd has teamed up with DogWatch to deliver the next generation in wearable GPS dog fences to pet parents. For dogs that run off or roam too far, our comprehensive solution combines technology with professional setup and personalized dog training.

SkyShepherd is built on more than a decade of research and development. With 25 granted patents, its performance is proven and practical. SkyShepherd gently guides your dog in real time, using moment- specific cues to help them stay within their safe zone. The system’s ‘safe tone’

provides positive reinforcement, rewards good behavior, and accelerates learning. You can monitor your property 24/7 with customizable alert zones and on-demand location lookup, with no subscription fees. Unlimited boundaries let you create as many safe zones as you need— whether at home, on the road, or anywhere in between.

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For more information, visit dogwatchbayarea.com, skyshepherd.com, email dogfencepro@gmail.com, or call 408- 629-7285. Whether you’re looking for a wired or wireless system, we’re here to help. DogWatch Hidden Fences has served the Bay Area, Napa, and Carmel since 1998.

sources include gas-tax and vehicle-license fees ($14.6 million), state disaster relief ($3.5 million), FEMA ($10–15 million), Measure D local sales tax ($4.5 million for annual repaving), and state and federal transportation grants (estimated $10–17).

These funds are paying for repairs like the current work on Stetson Road and Miller Cutoff. They’ll also fund major work on Soquel-San Jose Road next year. We’re submitting an application to include Summit Road as well. Santa Cruz County took out a nearly $90 million bond to pay for storm damage repairs last year, in the hope that most or all of this will be paid back by FEMA and the California Office of It’s worth noting that the county budget is a placeholder and will likely be revised this fall, after the state and federal budgets are known. Medicaid cuts and potential disruptions to FEMA funding are big risks, especially for Santa Cruz County, which has relied heavily on FEMA to address deferred maintenance. If FEMA support dwindles, investing in preventive maintenance will be 95033Talk is a local online email group for anyone living in the 95033 zip code or related areas of the Santa Cruz/Los Gatos Mountains to discuss local issues. We have a robust community of 2,600 people who ask and share advice and recommendations.

The group is particularly active in cases of emergencies or fire. There are a few other local-interest groups as well, including All 95033Talk posts are archived and can be accessed by members. Visit 95033.org to join 95033Talk or the other local forums.

Buying Power. As of August 6, the average mortgage interest rate was 6.57 percent, which is down by 0.88 percent compared to a year ago. For a $300,000 mortgage, the current monthly payment is approximately $1,910. A year ago, this payment would have Home Valuations. There is a correlation between interest rates and home prices.

Higher interest rates can lead to lower home prices, while lower rates can lead to higher prices. Buyers may benefit from purchasing a home when interest rates are higher, then refinancing when rates decrease. This strategy may result in a lower purchase price and reduced payments after refinancing.

Misconceptions. Many people believe that mortgage-interest rates are directly linked to Federal Reserve System lending rates. While the Fed’s policies can influence economic conditions, mortgage rates are also affected Future Projections. Fannie Mae projects mortgage rates to be around 6.5 percent by the end of 2025 and 6.1 percent in 2026.

A reduction to 6.1 percent could result in approximately $90 monthly savings on a $300,000 mortgage compared to current Affordability. Although current rates are not as low as the sub-3 percent rates seen in 2021, the decrease in average rates over the past year and the stabilization of housing prices may make home ownership more It’s hard to say where interest rates are headed, but the current administration is