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In the June 2 election, Santa Clara County voters will decide on a new parcel tax that is meant to protect open spaces, wildlife habitat, water resources and agricultural land in the county.
Santa Clara Valley Open Space District Measure D proposes a $0.02 per square foot tax of building area on properties, capped at $7,500 per parcel. Proponents of the measure gathered enough signatures to qualify it for the ballot as an initiative so it will require approval by a simple majority of voters to pass.
If approved, this tax will be applicable within the district’s boundaries, which encompasses all county lands, except the city of Gilroy, and the lands under the management of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District.
According to an impartial analysis of the measure by County Counsel Tony LoPresti, proceeds from the tax will be used for the protection of land and water resources and mitigation of wildfire risk, in accordance with the Santa Clara Valley Greenprint, a 30-year conservation priorities plan drafted by the district authority.
Individuals over 65 years of age and those receiving supplemental income for disabilities would be exempt from the tax. Certain individuals who receive disability insurance benefits would also be exempt if they meet the income criteria.
The district authority’s managing board will be required to file an annual report, conduct an annual audit, and hold at least one public meeting to gather input on spending the collected revenue.
In their argument in favor of the measure, U.S. Rep Sam Liccardo, D-San Jose, the League of Women Voters, and nature conservation nonprofit Green Foothills said that the tax was important to prevent natural disasters, restore wildlife habitat, and address illegal activity and vandalism in natural open spaces within the county.
The Silicon Valley Taxpayers Association has penned an argument against the measure, alleging that “all the public officials would rather have gullible voters force taxpayers, including themselves, to send every dollar they dream up to one government agency or another. It’s more for them. Less for you.”
This story was written by Tanay Gokhale for Bay City News Service.
