San Mateo County Parks funding crisis leads to call for ballot measure
by Kathy Switky

San Mateo County Parks - including such highly visited sites as Coyote Point and Flood Parks - are among the most spectacular in the state. Yet San Mateo County is the only Bay Area county that has a park system without a dedicated source of tax funds for park operation and maintenance.

Although citizens have worked on a search for alternative funding sources for parks since 1992, the current budget crisis has brought this issue to a head. General Fund monies are being directed away from parks - and resultant cuts in maintenance, ranger staffing, and park hours have been drastic.

Several passionate citizen activists have been working with Committee for Green Foothills (CGF) to solve this problem by securing a dedicated source of funds for the County parks. We look now to the Supervisors to take the next step and offer San Mateo County voters the opportunity to provide this critical funding.

Parks operating budget slashed
If the Supervisors adopt the County Manager's recommended budget, the Parks' operating budget will have been cut by 30% over the past two years. This year's County budget has a shortfall of $3.8 million in the Parks operating budget - the funds used for maintenance and ongoing operational needs. This doesn't include some $77 million in deferred or new improvements.

The San Mateo County Parks system contains the widest variety of habitats and the most endangered species of any county parks in the Bay Area. Our county government has an obligation to preserve and protect these invaluable assets for the future.

Parks Foundation dedicated to programs, not maintenance
Ironically, while maintenance and operational costs are being slashed by the County, private funding is already helping to supplement other expenses in County parks. The San Mateo County Parks and Recreation Foundation was established five years ago to provide additional financial support for recreational, environmental and educational programs and projects of the San Mateo County Parks and Recreation Department. This growing nonprofit has provided essential funding for a number of parks projects, but the Foundation's mission is not to fund operational needs. It's clear that San Mateo County must identify tax-based revenues to be dedicated for parks.

Thousands of citizens ask for ballot measure
For the very short term, the parks can limp along with a drastically reduced budget. Bathrooms won't be kept as clean, rangers will be scarce as they shuttle between parks, essential summer interns will be absent this year, and some areas of some parks will be closed. This reduced level of funding imperils both park resources and the enjoyment of visitors. Committee for Green Foothills is urging the Board to take action quickly and ensure that these important public assets are adequately maintained and protected.

With the support of Supervisors Jerry Hill and Mike Nevin, CGF and a number of citizen activists have gathered signatures on a petition urging the Board of Supervisors to put forth a ballot measure that would provide a dedicated source of funds for County parks.

At the Board's June 25 budget hearings, we presented to the Board this petition, signed by more than 6,000 County residents - an outstanding show of support for our parks.

Recent surveys indicate that County voters will continue their long history of voting for parks funding: a 2001 Strategy Research Institute poll indicated that 74% of San Mateo County voters would support a tax dedicated to capital improvements and expansion of existing County parks and trails.

Ask the Supervisors to act now to fund parks
We need to let the County Supervisors know that the public supports parks funding now. Please take a minute to write a letter to the Supervisors, asking them to proceed expeditiously with this. Join us in asking the Supervisors to put this issue on the ballot and give San Mateo County voters the opportunity to vote for dedicated parks funding.

San Mateo County Board of Supervisors
President Rose Jacobs Gibson
Supervisors Mark Church, Richard
Gordon, Jerry Hill, and Mike Nevin
400 County Center
Redwood City, CA 94063
Fax (650) 599-1027

For more information and the latest updates on this issue, visit our website at www.GreenFoothills.org/action.