San Mateo County Measures

“As with other cities in the state of California facing state mandates and other costs, the town of Colma is not immune from needing to develop new revenue sources … Colma is a sales tax town and the services the town provides its residents, businesses and visitors is dependent on the tens of thousands of people who shop in our town each day.”

None filed.

“Redwood City’s current business license tax structure forces small, locally owned businesses to pay much higher tax rates compared to wealthier businesses, such as large corporations. We’ve allowed this injustice to go on for too long. Redwood City voters can end this unfairness by voting Yes on BB.”

None filed.

“Yes on CC is 100% paid by visitors, tourists, and other nonresidents who visit Menlo Park. Why should we, Menlo Park residents, foot the entire bill for the local services and infrastructure visitors use while in our city? Vote Yes on CC to ensure out-of-town visitors pay their share to keep our small-town quality of life.”

None filed.

“Measure DD is not a tax on Belmont residents or their property. Yes on DD ensures that existing large businesses pay their fair share for critical city services including police, fire, and emergency medical responses. Yes on DD treats our small businesses fairly so that they can stay and grow in Belmont.”

None filed.

“Unfortunately, Pacifica School District is one of the lowest funded districts in San Mateo County. If we don’t do something to change that soon, we risk losing even more great local teachers and school staff. That’s why we need Measure EE. It will provide a dedicated source of locally controlled funding to prevent painful layoffs and maintain high-quality academic programs, ensuring our students will keep pace with other children across the county.”

None filed.

“Having the shortest-term limits in the county has clearly put Millbrae at a disadvantage. Council members often must reach beyond our limits to learn about the solutions that will best serve the people, and now we’re asking if you, the voters of Millbrae, will allow the council members to stay another term and lead Millbrae to a safer, stronger, and more sustainable city.”

None filed.

“Funding for our local schools has not increased in more than 12 years, despite inflation. In fact, our schools receive among the lowest amount of state funding per-student in San Mateo County. Measure GG will help our schools keep up with the rising cost of providing a quality education and preventing teacher layoffs.”

None filed.

“This will benefit the whole community. While our school has been well maintained since being built in 2017, aging classrooms and facilities are showing the wear and tear of constant use and are very expensive to repair. A local school improvement measure would allow the district to improve the quality of the school’s facilities and the educational programs provided to local students.”

“Endless rounds of bond sales by school districts are not the answer to improving education. Government bonds should not be used to pay for school buildings, because government should not be building and running schools. Private alternatives, including home schooling, can do a better job for our children, at lower average cost.”

None filed.

“The existing $507.14 parcel tax has not made Broadmoor residents any safer than their neighbors, and nothing suggests giving the department yet another $297.30 will. The department will not commit to spend the funds on officer salaries. Instead, it will spend them as it does its existing budget, frittering taxpayer money away on lawyers, settlements of whistleblower lawsuits, and astronomical insurance premiums created by those lawsuits and its incompetence.”

None filed.

None filed.

East Palo Alto median rents have increased nearly 30% in the past two years, exacerbating a housing affordability crisis marked by displacement, homelessness, gentrification and evictions. Measure JJ will yield $1.45 million annually, funding initiatives such as temporary rental assistance to protect residents from displacement and homelessness. It also prohibits landlords from passing the tax onto tenants, who have already shouldered the burden of rising rents.

None

“Measure K improves our schools and helps our district remain competitive while protecting taxpayers. Join parents, grandparents, guardians, teachers, neighbors, business owners and community leaders in voting Yes on Measure K to preserve and protect our community’s most valuable assets!”

“Endless rounds of bond sales by school districts are not the answer to improving education. Government bonds should not be used to pay for school buildings, because government should not be building and running schools. Private alternatives, including home schooling, can do a better job for our children, at lower average cost.”

“Seventeen of the 20 cities in San Mateo County already have an appointed city treasurer. Currently, San Carlos holds an election for the city treasurer every four years, spending taxpayer funds on an elected position that only requires a candidate to be 18 years old and a registered voter. This allows potentially inexperienced candidates to become city treasurer.”

“While it’s tempting to argue certain financial qualifications should be required, those benefits are outweighed by maintaining direct citizen oversight. The state of California treasurer likewise requires no such qualifications and is elected directly by the citizens. The fact that other peninsula cities have already converted to an appointed treasurer is not a reason for us to follow suit.”

“Yes on M is 100% paid by visitors, tourists and other nonresidents who come to Pacifica. Yes on M is not a tax on Pacifica residents of property owners. Every penny of Yes on M will be spent on services that benefit residents and visitors, including maintaining what makes our city unique like Pacifica’s parks, beaches, coastlines and trails.”

“Visitors often compare accommodation costs when planning their travels, and a higher TOT can deter potential guests from choosing our city. This can result in decreased occupancy rates for local hotels and short-term rentals, ultimately reducing the overall revenue these businesses generate. Secondly, the hospitality industry is still recovering from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many hotels and short-term rental operators are working hard to rebuild their businesses and regain financial stability.”

“Top-quality local public schools are the foundation of our community’s future. They create opportunities for all our children, provide every student with the resources to succeed, teach critical skills and prepare them for college and future careers. Investing in education benefits us all.”

None filed.

None filed.

None filed.

“The state does not provide adequate funding for facility updates at our schools without a local funding source like Measure P … Even if you don’t have school-age children, supporting quality education is a wise investment. Excellent schools improve the quality of life in our community and protect the value of our homes.”

“Endless rounds of bond sales by school districts are not the answer to improving education. Government bonds should not be used to pay for school buildings, because government should not be building and running schools. Private alternatives, including home schooling, can do a better job for our children, at lower average cost.”

“Our community faces critical infrastructure challenges that demand our immediate attention. Despite our efforts to reduce overall costs, including eliminating non-essential functions and services and reducing staffing costs, we need to raise additional funding to address these specific urgent needs.”

None filed.

“For Half Moon Bay, total public safety costs (our largest expenditure) increased approximately 51% heading into the current fiscal year. This increase, along with other inflation-based increased expenses and lagging tourism revenues, resulted in a multimillion-dollar annual structural deficit that is projected to continue into the foreseeable future … This sales tax would yield approximately $1.8 million–$2 million per year until the tax is terminated by voters.”

None filed.

“This parcel tax is essential to fulfill the Ravenswood Promise and empower every student to shape a brighter future for themselves and our community. When accounting for student needs, Ravenswood receives less state funds than nearly all of our neighboring school districts. In deep partnership with the community, together we have developed an action plan that prioritizes investments to create an exceptional and transformative education for all.”

None filed.

San Mateo is an expensive city to live in and longtime residents, seniors and younger residents are being pushed out. Measure T will add housing near transit hubs, shopping areas, and busy corridors, which could promote economic growth and transit use. It will create jobs and support downtown small businesses, without raising taxes.

Measure T removes protections voters have approved previously. The potential growth from this initiative could strain existing infrastructure and services, possibly leading to higher taxes, fees and bonds. The city’s current height restrictions have still supported a vibrant downtown and more housing near transit hubs.

“This measure may qualify the district for over $28 million in government funding and energy grants that wouldn’t otherwise be available, helping us leverage local dollars for maximum benefit. The district has a proven track record of financial stewardship, evidenced by its AAA bond rating and millions saved through prudent financial management.”

“Endless rounds of bond sales by school districts are not the answer to improving education. Government bonds should not be used to pay for school buildings, because government should not be building and running schools. Private alternatives, including home schooling, can do a better job for our children, at lower average cost.”

“Since 2016, three of our four main revenue sources have increased between 21% and 67%, while the fourth, our Business License Tax has had a meager revenue increase of 4%. This measure will add about $1.5 million in revenue annually without impacting the rates for over 94% of our businesses. This updating of our Business License Tax is one step toward the long-term sustainability of the quality of life we enjoy in Foster City.”

None filed.

“South San Francisco’s Business License Tax is regressive and has not been updated since 2008. Currently, small businesses pay over 50% of the tax, and there is a cap that has limited the contribution of the largest corporations … South San Francisco needs a locally controlled source of revenue to maintain crucial services our residents depend on.”

None filed.

“Of the 23 school districts in San Mateo, San Bruno Park is the only elementary school district that doesn’t have a dedicated source of local funding for our schools. Studies show that reducing teacher turnover rates leads to better classroom instruction and student achievement. We need Measure X to help attract and retain high-quality teachers and maintain academic programs that will ensure our students are successful in high school, college, and future careers.”

None filed.

“Measure Y is a modest, thoughtful, simple extension, that asks for significantly less money than neighboring districts. Whether you have school-age children or not, supporting quality education is a wise investment. Great schools improve our local quality of life and protect home values. Measure Y will not increase local tax rates but will protect local education.”

None filed.

“Our local public high schools — Jefferson, Oceana, Terra Nova, Thornton and Westmoor — are vital to our community’s prosperity. They enhance the value of our homes and businesses. They are also responsible for shaping the success of our community’s next generation. An investment in our schools is an investment in our future.”

None filed.