Speak up for local funding for
San Mateo County parks
Posted September 14, 2005

• Background    
• What's happening
• Why this is important
• What you can do    

Committee for Green Foothills has been working for some time to find dedicated funding for San Mateo County Parks. The solution to that problem, in the form of Senate Bill 203, now sits on Governor Schwarzenegger's desk.

Please join us in asking the Governor to sign SB203 and provide revenue to parks and recreation activities throughout San Mateo County.

Background
After many years of budget cuts, the San Mateo County Parks and Recreation budget reached a critically low level last year, causing the partial closure of several parks.

Committee for Green Foothills joined with many others to form Parks for the Future to find a solution to the ongoing funding problem.

The entire San Mateo County state delegation co-authored SB 203, which would allow San Mateo County voters to consider a 1/8 cent sales tax increase to help meet park and recreation needs by funding. county, city, and special district park facilities and activities.

The bill received strong bipartisan support from both the Senate and the Assembly.

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What's happening
The Governor is currently considering whether to approve or veto SB 203. Supervisors Jerry Hill and Adrienne Tissier met with the Governor's staff last week and learned that he is considering vetoing the bill, as he is concerned about possible conflict with a statewide infrastructure plan that has yet to be developed.

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Why this is important
Without dedicated funding, our parks will suffer from a lack of maintenance and protection, and may again become closed to the public.

This ballot measure would allow San Mateo County residents to fund a local solution with local flexibility to our local problem.

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What you can do
Please ask the Governor to allow county residents to solve our problem without interference from the state. Ask Governor Schwarzenegger to sign SB203 immediately and allow voters to maintain our parks.

Write to:
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
Fax 916-445-4633
Email the Governor via http://www.govmail.ca.gov/

Time is short: please fax or email the Supervisors by this Friday, September 9.

Please send a copy of your message to CGF so we can track our efforts on this issue: fax 650-968-8431 or email: action@GreenFoothills.org.

Please speak up now to keep our parks maintained, protected, and accessible. Your voice does make a difference!

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