County Launches New Website to Track Measure A Funds

By Bay City News Service:

San Mateo County has set up a new website for its residents, aimed at informing them how voter-approved sales tax funds are being used to meet needs within the community, county officials announced Monday.

The website is dedicated to Measure A, a half-cent sales tax approved by voters in 2012, and intends to teach residents about the programs and people benefiting from initiatives and projects funded by the measure, according to county officials.

The goal of the website is not just to show residents where their tax money is going, but also to provide real-life stories of residents who benefit from programs funded by the measure.

Voters approved the measure by a 65.4 percent majority, after years of several budget cuts due to the recession and unpredictable federal and state funding, county officials said. The measure took effect on April 1, 2013 and will expire in 2023.

The website launch was designed to coincide with the three-year anniversary of Measure A taking effect, according to county officials.

During the 2014-2015 fiscal year, funds from Measure A raised more than $80.5 million. As of January 2016, the county's Board of Supervisors has allocated the funds for approximately 110 initiatives through internal departments, other government agencies and service providers, such as community-based organizations, county officials said.

Among the initiatives are the a childhood literacy initiative, elder adult protection, library renovations, public WiFi, combating human trafficking and paratransit services for elderly and disabled individuals.

"We are grateful San Mateo County residents voters understood the economic reasons we sought Measure A in 2012 and that they continue to appreciate how the funds now allow us the latitude to strengthen our parks system, improve childhood literacy and combat homelessness, among many other important and innovative initiatives," Board of Supervisors President Warren Slocum said.

Interested residents can visit the new website at http://cmo.smcgov.org/measurea.