Fail: 107,418 / 55.4% Yes votes ...... 86,469 / 44.6% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

The stated purposes of the additional sales tax are to fund parks and recreation services provided by cities, the County and special districts including, but not limited to: maintaining and improving park bathrooms, picnic areas and athletic facilities; repairing and upgrading playgrounds and play structures; improving access to parks and playgrounds for the disabled; preserving natural open spaces; and maintaining hiking, walking and biking trails.

The proceeds of the tax will be placed into a special account. The funds will be distributed from this account to the County , special districts within the County and cities within the County pursuant to a formula specified in the measure. An annual report is required that accounts for the sales tax revenues collected and the manner in which they have been spent.

A "yes" vote on this measure would allow a 1/8 cent sales tax to be levied within the County of San Mateo for a period of twenty five years. The tax would be used to support parks and recreation services provided by cities, the County and special districts including, but not limited to: maintaining and improving park bathrooms, picnic areas and athletic facilities; repairing and upgrading playgrounds and play structures; improving access to parks and playgrounds for the disabled; preserving natural open spaces; and maintaining hiking, walking and biking trails.

A "no" vote on this measure would not allow the special tax to be levied.

This measure passes if two-thirds of those voting on the measure vote yes."

In Favor of Measure A:

Parks are an essential part of our communities and our quality of life in San Mateo County. Caring for our parks is a community decision about the importance of recreation, open space, and community vitality. High quality, clean and safe parks, playgrounds, sports fields, and recreation centers are important for our County's youth, adults and seniors. Our open spaces and trails offer opportunities to get outside and enjoy the beauty of San Mateo County.

Currently, no dedicated funding source exists to maintain and enhance your local city or county park. Limited and reduced funding has resulted in program cuts and millions in deferred maintenance at all parks + in your neighborhood or at County locations.

Measure A would increase San Mateo County's sales tax by 1/8th of one cent ($.08) for 25 years to provide dedicated revenue for county parks, city parks and recreation districts. The cost for the average person is $18 annually. Measure A guarantees more money for parks. Cities and the County must use this new money to increase their park budgets and each municipality controls how funds are spent.

A YES vote on Measure A will raise $16 million annually to:

• Maintain and improve picnic areas, athletic facilities and park bathrooms;

• Repair and upgrade playgrounds and play structures;

• Improve access to parks and playgrounds for the disabled;

• Purchase new parkland and preserve natural open spaces;

• Maintain hiking, walking, and biking trails;

• Improve recreation programs for youth and seniors;

Please join us to make your city and county parks and open space preserves even better in San Mateo County. Vote YES on Measure A.

/s/ Jackie Speier August 15, 2006 State Senator

/s/ Jerry Hill August 11, 2006 President, San Mateo County Board of Supervisors

/s/ Barbara Boles August 16, 2006 President, League of Women Voters

/s/ Don Horsley August 15, 2006 Sheriff, San Mateo County

/s/ Lennie Roberts August 14, 2006 Legislative Advocate, Committee for Green Foothills

Look at the facts.

Tax increasers blame "limited and reduced funding" for parks "program cuts". Take one city, Half Moon Bay: 2002-3 2005-6 Change (audited) (adopted) Total General Fund $8,164,885 $9,147,752 UP 12.0 % Expenditures Parks/Recreation $798,025 $1,036,071 UP 29.8 % Employee Salaries/Benefits $4,386,547 $6,084,710 UP 38.7 % Salaries/Benefits per Employee $71,911 $95,446 UP 32.7 %

Does this look like "limited and reduced funding", or "program cuts", to you? County-wide, total General Fund revenue for the four largest cities in San Mateo County is UP 5.7% year-to-year, from recent on-line adopted or projected budgets. With the recession behind us, government funding and spending all over San Mateo County is zooming up, well above inflation.

This sales tax increase isn't needed. Worse yet, it's harmful. This tax hike will increase the cost of living, and hurt our economy:

"To preserve the region's economic leadership and quality of life, we need to strengthen the infrastructure and rein in the cost of living now." (Lenny Mendonca, Bay Area Economic Forum).

There are already substantial tax revenues dedicated to parks + for example, the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District will receive over $21,000,000 this coming year. An additional sales tax isn't necessary. It isn't wise. And worst of all, it falls most heavily on the poor, who can least afford it.

Please, do the right thing - Vote no on Measure A.

/s/ Brian Perry August 24, 2006 Editor

/s/ David R Peters August 24, 2006 CFO

/s/ Harland Harrison August 24, 2006 Taxpayer

/s/ Christopher V.A. Schmidt August 24, 2006 retired computer professional

/s/ Catherine Brinkman August 24, 2006 Chairman, Young Republicans, Inc.

Look at recent San Mateo County budgets: Actual Adopted Change 2002-3 2006-7 Net Appropriations $924,168,412 $1,179,694,288 UP 27.6 % Salary/Benefits Per Employee $85,833 $113,846 UP 32.6 % Employee Salaries/Benefits $420,179,043 $594,027,886 UP 41.4 %

If parks are not getting their fair share of these increases, the fault lies with the priorities of the supervisors, not a lack of revenue. The present sales tax rate of 8.25% is already high - only San Francisco and Alameda counties are higher, state-wide. The county must live within its means + as do hardworking families here, every day.

Worse yet, Measure A would punish the poor: "Sales taxes are among the most regressive forms of taxation. Consumers with moderate or low incomes have to sacrifice much larger portions of their incomes on sales taxes than do wealthy consumers". (according to Robert Reich, former Secretary of Labor under President Clinton, and presently Professor of Public Policy at UC Berkeley, in a recent NPR interview)

Vote fiscal sanity.

Vote your conscience.

VOTE NO ON MEASURE A

/s/ D.F. Pettengill August 18, 2006 Treasurer, Coastside Citizens for Good Government

/s/ Jack Hickey August 18, 2006 Chair Libertarian Party of SMC

/s/ Christopher V.A. Schmidt August 18, 2006 Retired Computer Professional

/s/ Rob Smith August 18, 2006 San Mateo County Republican Central Committee Chairman 4th District

That's what you get voting YES on Measure A.

Measure A creates a dedicated source of funding enabling every City, the County and local recreation districts to make deferred repairs and improvements to your local parks, while improving programs and protecting open space. No such funding source exists today to make our parks even better. The average cost - $1.50 per person per month.

Voting YES on Measure A will:

• renovate park bathrooms

• enhance trails

• improve disabled access

• modernize recreation centers

• protect senior and youth recreation programs

Your community is guaranteed funds for necessary park needs.

"We've put off repairs to our parks too long. Measure A will finally allow us to make delayed park repairs for our community." Greg Cochran, Pacifica Parks Commissioner

"Local parks provide a safe place for children to play and participate in youth sports. Outdoor activities keep kids engaged and out of trouble. Measure A is a benefit to all." Tom Hitchcock, Millbrae Police Chief

"San Mateo County has stunning open spaces and natural habitat. Protecting these spaces for the next generation is essential." Mario Panoringan, CEO, Daly City-Colma Chamber of Commerce

Our opponents' arguments are short-sighted and lack common sense.

Measure A will support parks and recreation programs for you, your family, and your neighbors.

Please vote YES on Measure A.

/s/ Adrienne Tissier August 25, 2006 Member, San Mateo County Board of Supervisors

/s/ Coralin Feierbach August 28, 2006 Vice Mayor, City of Belmont

/s/ Gene Klein, Jr. August 23, 2006 Chairman, San Mateo Area Chamber of Commerce

/s/ Melanie M. Hildebrand August 22, 2006 Past President, San Mateo County Association of Realtors

/s/ Barbara Pierce August 28, 2006 Mayor, City of Redwood Cit