The next big hurdle for proponents of a one-eighth-cent sales tax to support parks and recreation in San Mateo County comes next Tuesday, July 18, at 10 a.m., when the Board of Supervisors will consider placing the a measure on the November ballot. The board will take final action August 1.
If approved by four-fifths of the board, and two-thirds of county voters in November, the measure would funnel an additional $16 million a year into park programs in the county, its 20 cities, and three special districts.
The one-eighth-cent tax proposed by Parks for the Future would raise the county’s sales tax from 8.25 percent to 8.375 percent. Each resident would pay an average of $18.10 cents per year, according to Parks for the Future.
“The value of parks is tremendous; they maintain the quality of life in San Mateo County,” said Julia Bott, president of the San Mateo County Parks and Recreation Foundation, which is spearheading the drive for the measure. She noted that San Mateo is one of only two counties in the inner Bay Area without a funding source dedicated specifically to parks.
The county’s 16 parks have been hurting from several years of tight budgets. According to Parks for the Future, the county’s Parks and Recreation Division has more than $100 million in deferred maintenance and unfunded capital improvements. Its budget was reduced by some 40 percent between 2002 and 2005; and staff has dropped from 94 full-time employees in 1990 to 55 in 2006. Meanwhile, visits to county parks have increased by 250,000.
Although the budget situation is better now, Ms. Bott argued, “One of the reasons for this measure is to cushion against bad years.”
A working group including park supporters and representatives from the county, cities and special districts has worked out a formula for dividing the money from the sales tax. The cities would receive 52 percent, or some $8 million a year; and the county would get 42 percent. Three special districts — the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, and the Ladera and Highlands recreation districts — would get the rest.
If the measure passes, Menlo Park stands to receive $328,733 a year, according to the allocation proposed by Parks for the Future. The smaller towns of Atherton, Portola Valley, and Woodside would each receive $205,000 per year; the county would get $6.3 million; and the special districts, $906,601.
Money from the tax would have to supplement existing park budgets, Ms. Bott stressed; it could not replace existing funds.
Building support
Park supporters were encouraged by an April poll showing that more than 70 percent of likely voters would support the measure.The Parks for the Future team has also been seeking support from cities and agencies. So far, Belmont, San Carlos, Brisbane, the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space, and the City/County Association of Governments support the tax measure.
The Atherton Town Council is scheduled to hear a presentation Wednesday, July 19, and the Ladera Recreation District was scheduled for one July 10.
The Woodside Town Council is due to vote on a resolution of support July 11.
For information, call Ms. Bott at 321-5812, or go to supportparks.org.
