Board of Supervisors approves adding parks sale tax measure to November ballot

The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors today took the first step toward asking voters to consider extending the local sales tax that supports regional and city parks across Sonoma County.

If passed by voters in November, the proposed ballot measure would continue the existing one-eighth-cent sales tax Sonoma County voters enacted as Measure M in 2018. The measure would not increase the current tax rate or create an additional tax.

Measure M currently generates more than $15 million annually to maintain and improve parks, expand trails, renovate recreation facilities, reduce wildfire risks and improve access to the outdoors. Two-thirds of the revenue supports Sonoma County Regional Parks, while one-third is distributed among the county’s nine cities based on population.

In a report to the Board, Regional Parks officials explained that the tax is scheduled to expire in 2029, and if it is not renewed, the loss of funding could affect park maintenance, recreation programs, wildfire prevention, habitat restoration and public access to parks and trails.

The Board voted unanimously to introduce an ordinance that would place the sales tax renewal on the Nov. 3 ballot. The Board is expected to consider adoption of the ordinance this summer. If approved by two-thirds of voters, the renewed measure would take effect when Measure M expires.

“Today’s action begins a public process that will allow voters to decide if they want to continue this local investment in parks,” said Supervisor Rebecca Hermosillo, chair of the Board of Supervisors “Reauthorizing funding for our Regional Parks system means continuing to invest in safe, accessible parks, trails, open spaces, and recreation opportunities that bring all of our communities together. These investments help ensure that families in every neighborhood, have access to nature, healthy outdoor spaces, and the many physical and mental health benefits our parks provide.”

Measure M is the first dedicated funding source supporting municipal parks countywide. At one-eighth of a cent, the tax equals approximately 3 cents on a $25 purchase and 12 cents on a $100 purchase.

The revenue has helped local agencies open new parks and trails, repair aging facilities, build playgrounds and sports courts, protect creeks and streams, expand recreation programs and increase the pace and scale of wildfire prevention work. Measure M funding also allows local agencies to secure state, federal and private grants that require matching funds, multiplying the impact of local dollars invested in parks throughout the county.

For Regional Parks, Measure M funding has supported recent renovations of Maxwell Farms and Larson parks in Sonoma Valley, trail construction at Taylor Mountain in Santa Rosa and Helen Putnam in Petaluma and the opening and expansion of Monte Rio Redwoods Regional Park and Preserve.

“Parks are part of daily life in Sonoma County, whether it’s a neighborhood playground, a sports field, a river park or a regional trail,” said Regional Parks Director Bert Whitaker. “Measure M funding plays a critical role in maintaining our parks and trails, ensuring they are safe, well cared for and open to the public year-round. It sustains the work that keeps these spaces usable and welcoming and supports projects that benefit communities across the county. Voters should have an opportunity to consider the future of those investments.”

Whitaker told the Board that recent outreach to city officials found universal support for renewing the parks tax. Public opinion surveys also show that voters value Sonoma County’s parks and broadly support continuing the existing sales tax.

If the voters were to extend the tax, Regional Parks and the cities would continue investing the revenue in park operations, maintenance and improvements. Like Measure M, the proposed renewal contains accountability requirements, including independent citizen oversight and annual public reporting on expenditures. Revenue could only be used for regional and city park expenses outlined in the ordinance’s expenditure plan.

More information about Measure M and annual funding reports are available at SoCoParks.org/ParksForAll.

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Media Contact:
Matt Brown, Communications Specialist
publicaffairs@sonomacounty.gov
(707) 565-3040