Pasadena Grapples With Rising Road Paving Costs Amid Declining Gas Tax Revenue

Pasadena’s Public Works Department faces financial challenges in maintaining city streets as paving costs have dramatically outpaced available funding. At Tuesday’s Municipal Services Committee meeting on May 13, Public Works Director Greg de Vinck presented the department’s fiscal year 2026 operating budget of $95 million, representing a 2.5% increase over the prior year, while highlighting the growing gap between repair needs and financial resources for the city’s road infrastructure.

“Our bigger problem with streets is the cost of paving is going up way more than funding. I would just estimate since the start of COVID to now, paving the streets more than 50% more expensive than it was. So almost a 10% average increase year over year is just what we’re seeing and the funds aren’t going up that much,” de Vinck told the Committee.

The city currently allocates $5.9 million for street paving from sources including SB-1 and gas tax funds, but officials are requesting an additional $5 million to address deteriorating conditions.

Committee members discussed progress toward this funding goal, with one official noting, “When we opened the budget, I believe we presented that. We believe we were at $4.3” million in additional funds identified, adding “I think we’re closer to five. So when we turn to the council on June 2nd, we’ll provide an update.”

Even with the proposed increase reaching approximately $10.9 million, de Vinck indicated the impact would be modest on Pasadena’s current pavement condition index.

“The 11 [million] will get us up a point or two every year,” Devin told the committee.

“Gas tax is a fund we’re concerned with,” de Vinck explained. “It’s been discussed before. It’s a declining fund statewide. As [drivers] are … converting to electric, it is going down.”

To improve immediate road maintenance operations, the department is requesting $280,000 for a hot asphalt patch truck.

“This will make our pothole filling much more efficient and not only more efficient … but better quality that will last,” said de Vinck. “We are in an unfortunate reality. We will have a lot of potholes for a lot of years to come.”

The department also highlighted its response to a recent windstorm, removing 6,700 tons of organic waste filling “3,000 super 10 dump trucks” loads in three weeks, including about 400 fallen trees. Despite this challenge, the department experienced only a one-day delay in citywide solid waste collection routes.

Public Works is also increasing its annual tree planting commitment from 400 to 600 trees. During discussions, Councilmember Tyron Hampton emphasized the importance of planting native species, particularly in hotter areas of the city identified in a climate index.

“I think we should be focusing on the trees that are native to our environment,” Hampton urged.

The department reported making progress in reducing illegally dumped items.

“Prior to our new education and outreach, we were around 6,000 tons of abandoned items per year,” explained a Public Works staff member. “Since then, it has dropped dramatically” to about 1,000 tons annually.