As other county departments face layoffs and cuts totaling $146
million, the Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Department
will grow by $4.5 million this year, from $62.1 million to $66.6
million.
Morgan Hill – As other county departments face layoffs and cuts totaling $146 million, the Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Department will grow by $4.5 million this year, from $62.1 million to $66.6 million.
The reason for the increase lies with voters, who since 1972 have approved a string of property tax set-asides for parks and recreation.
“We feel very fortunate that both the board of supervisors and the voters in Santa Clara County have realized the importance of parks and open space,” said Ed Souza, customer and business services manager for the Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Department. “It’s a quality of life issue … it’s also very unique for a county park system to have tax set-aside.”
For every $100 the county collects in property taxes, 1.425 cents is dedicated to parks. The earmarked funds cannot be stripped away in deficit years. Meanwhile, the county is facing a $227 million shortfall in its $3.5 billion spending plan that’s affecting health care, social services, public safety and other departments.
“It’s a wonderful deal for county parks,” said Supervisor Don Gage. “They’re kept in their natural settings and are used by residents who can hike, bike, ride horses … that’s land that will be preserved in perpetuity. And it is a quality of life issue.”
County voters have overwhelmingly supported stable funding for parks. In 1996, 80 percent voted to continue set-aside. Most recently, voters continued the funding last June through Measure B, which passed with 72 percent of the vote.
The 28-park system is one of the largest in the state. It includes 45,000 acres of urban and mountain trails, lakes, streams and open spaces. Natural settings range from San Francisco Bay wetlands to Santa Cruz Mountains redwoods.
Several projects benefiting South County parks are being funded in this year’s budget, which takes effect July 1. The projects include a $65,000 cattle grazing plan for Santa Theresa Park; a $200,000 Calero Park trails master plan; $125,000 in landslide repairs at Anderson Lake Park; and $350,000 shower facilities at Mt. Madonna Park.
Additionally, the parks and recreation department is expanding its roughly 200-person staff by adding a third natural resources technician at a yearly cost of $102,000, including salary and benefits.
