Needing two-thirds to pass, Measure Q would tax property owners $24 annually
Published in the Nov. 12-25, 2014 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Staff Report
As of Nov. 7, Measure Q was too close to call, hanging at a two-thirds majority vote of about 67 percent of yes votes. If passed, the Santa Clara County ballot measure would tax property owners $24 per parcel to increase revenue for open space and expand the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority’s revenue by about $120 million before sunsetting in 15 years.
With all 730 precincts in the county reporting Wednesday morning, the voting remains so close a final tally is unlikely to be available until all of the late mail-in ballots are counted.
Measure Q has received 67.03 percent of yes votes.
Money raised from the parcel tax would be used to expand the OSA’s network of seven open space preserves, located in the hills of east San Jose, and around Henry W. Coe State Park and Calero Reservoir.
The OSA was established by state law two decades ago.If passed by local voters, the measure would provide the funding to allow the OSA to nearly double the size of protected open space land from 16,000 to 30,000 acres.
The measure could also add more than 25 miles of trails to OSA parks and natural preserves in San Jose, Milpitas, Santa Clara, Campbell, Morgan Hill as well as unincorporated Santa Clara County. Supporters of the measure say it would enhance public use of the land by tripling the number of trails for hiking, horse riding and mountain biking.
Up to 25 percent of the funding — estimated at about $7.9 million annually for 15 years — would be provided as grant money to support open space, recreation and outdoor education efforts in various cities, schools, nonprofits and the county to support more open space, recreation and outdoor education efforts.
The OSA has relied on running on revenue provided by a $12-per-parcel assessment approved by voters in 1994. This assessment raises about $4.2 million each year. The OSA also has $26 million left under a court settlement after the Silicon Valley Taxpayers Association challenged the original tax measure.
The association opposed Measure Q, saying the taxpayers’s money would not be spent responsibly by the OSA.
“Achieving a 2/3 majority for Measure Q would be a huge success and would demonstrate that an overwhelming majority of the voters recognize how protecting open space land contributes to our quality of life,” said Patty Eaton, communications specialist at the OSA. “The authority will continue to be as transparent as possible while implementing the Santa Clara Valley Greenprint. All community members are invited to participate by attending meetings and providing input as we progress. You may join the Greenprint email list by sending a message with ‘yes’ in the subject line to [email protected].”
