Measure D: Open space parcel tax in Santa Clara County leads in early returns

A parcel tax to raise $17 million a year to buy new open space preserves, build trails, and reduce fire danger across large swaths of Santa Clara County was leading Tuesday night in early returns. Measure D had a 53% to 46% lead at 8:45 pm, according to the Santa Clara County Registrar's Office.

The measure, sponsored by the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority, a government agency based in San Jose, was endorsed by a wide range of elected officials, including all five members of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors; Congressmembers Ro Khanna, Sam Liccardo, Zoe Lofgren and Jimmy Panetta; the League of Women Voters; the South Bay AFL-CIO Labor Council; and a long list of environmental groups.

It was opposed by the Silicon Valley Taxpayers Association.

The measure needs 50% to pass, rather than two-thirds, because it was qualified for the ballot by a signature-gathering effort. That campaign was led and funded by the Peninsula Open Space Trust, a Palo Alto-based environmental group that has purchased dozens of properties in the Peninsula, the San Mateo Coast, Santa Cruz Mountains and Santa Clara County, which have eventually become parks.

If passed, Measure D would impose an annual tax of 2 cents per square foot of buildings on property owners within the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority's boundaries, which include San Jose, Milpitas, Santa Clara, Campbell, Morgan Hill and unincorporated areas of Santa Clara County.

The owner of a typical 1,600-square-foot home in those areas would pay $32 a year, and a 2,500-square-foot home would pay $50 a year. Seniors age 65 and over could apply for an exemption, as could low-income residents on Supplemental Security Income, or SSI.

Supporters say the money is needed to help provide more public access as the agency - which was created by state lawmakers in 1994 - expands the land it manages, particularly in Santa Clara Valley's eastern foothills and the rustic areas of Coyote Valley between San Jose and Morgan Hill.

Opponents say the cost of living is already too high, and the tax is flawed because it did not have a sunset date.

Currently, the open space district has four main preserves open to the public. They are Sierra Vista, in the hills east of San Jose (1,611 acres); Rancho Cañada del Oro, adjacent to Calero County Park between San Jose and Morgan Hill (5,675 acres); Coyote Valley (348 acres), in the western hills of Coyote Valley; and Coyote Ridge, on the east side of Highway 101 just north of Anderson Reservoir (1,859 acres).

The district has seen its land and number of visitors steadily grow.

In 2014, the preserves had 150,000 visitors. That doubled to 300,000 by 2020. Last year, there were 500,000 visitors. By 2041, an estimated 1 million will hike, bike, and ride horses in its preserves, according to the agency.

Similarly, in 2014, the agency owned 16,000 acres of land and 11 miles of trails. Now it has preserved 30,000 acres and has 30 miles of trails. By 2041, those totals are expected to climb to 45,000 acres and 60 miles of trails.

But the agency, which has 60 employees, has not seen an increase in its $12.2 million operating budget since 2014, despite that growth.

That year, voters approved Measure Q, a $24 annual parcel tax, by 68% to 32%. The measure provides $8 million a year. It was set to expire in 2030. Voters extended it indefinitely in 2020 by 81%-19%. The agency also raises an additional $4.2 million from an earlier assessment measure that was approved by voters in 1996.

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