Politics & Government
Measure M: Tax For Parks Passes In Sonoma County
The funds will go toward improvement and maintenance of parks and open spaces in county and cities.
SONOMA COUNTY, CA – Voters in Sonoma County appear to have approved Measure M, an eighth-cent countywide sales tax for 10 years for improvements and maintenance of the county's regional parks, trails, open space preserves and parks in the incorporated cities.
Measure M needed two-thirds approval and received 69.7 percent in favor with 506 of 551 precincts reporting as of early this morning.
The special tax only for parks would provide approximately $12.3 million annually. It is intended to supplement existing funding and not supplant a county or city agency's general fund except during limited specified circumstances.
Find out what's happening in Petalumafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
A half-cent sales tax measure for Sonoma County Regional Parks in 2016 failed by about 1,100 votes. It needed two-thirds approval and received about 63 percent.
Two-thirds of Measure M's proceeds will go to Sonoma County Regional Parks for maintenance, safety, recreational services, improving access to trails and open spaces and protecting natural resources.
Find out what's happening in Petalumafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
One-third of the tax revenue will be divided among the county's nine cities. Santa Rosa city parks would get about $2 million a year, while Cotati would receive $87,600.
Under Measure M, Sonoma County Regional Parks and each incorporated city will be required to prepare an annual report on the projects funded by the tax collected by merchants starting April 1, 2019.
Former Sonoma County Parks Director Caryl Hart and other proponents said park usage has increased dramatically over the past several years, and older parks with a backlog of maintenance will be renovated under Measure M.
The Sonoma County Taxpayers Association's executive director Daniel Drummond opposed Measure M. He argued Measure M contains the core defects that led to the defeat of the 2016 parks tax measure.
"Our objection is not that they already tried it (a parks tax) before, but that the county is trying it in the first place. They need to address the major problems like pension reform," Drummond said.
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