A newly completed report on the Alameda County Transportation Commission shares in-depth information on the public agency's funding, expenditures and activities from the 2021-22 fiscal year.

The Independent Watchdog Committee's 21st annual report was made available to the public through the Alameda CTC website this August. It makes recommendations on the delivery of projects and programs funded by voter-approved items, such as Measure B and Measure BB, and related audited financial statements have also been published along with the report.

Every year the IWC reviews the commission's operations and expenses related to voter-approved measures. It then works to analyze the data, offer suggestions and then release it to the public.

The latest report looks at Measure B, Alameda County's half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements approved in 2000, and Measure BB, which increased the tax to one full cent in 2014 and extended it through 2045.

According to the IWC report, the Alameda CTC received $144.1 million in funds from Measure B during the 2021-22 fiscal year. The commission spent $112.5 million through public transit, debt repayment and transportation improvements, among other costs.

Accounting for the highest expenditure of Measure B funds, is $41.7 million on public transit. The costs include operations, capital investments and special transportation for seniors and people with disabilities, according to Alameda CTC.

The commission spent $38.5 million for local transportation improvements, including local streets and roads and bicycle and pedestrian projects, and $26.5 million for debt repayment. $5.8 million was then spent on highway and street capital projects, general administration and direct program oversight.

As for Measure BB funds, the commission received $241.8 million in revenue and expended $248.5 million.

The highest category of spending using Measure BB funds was $86.2 million for highway and street capital projects.The next largest expenses were $78.3 million for public transit and $76.2 million for local transportation improvements. $7.8 million was spent on administration, direct program oversight and other grants.

In a separate statement, Alameda CTC also recently announced it has been recognized for its excellence in financial reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada.

For its annual comprehensive financial report published in June 2022, the commission was honored with the "Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting". This is the 10th consecutive year the commission has been honored by GFOA's awards.

"This award is a tremendous honor," Alameda CTC Executive Director Tess Lengyel said in a statement. "The Alameda CTC Finance Team's stewardship of public funds and clear, accessible communications of the agency's financial statements is second to none."