Open space tax measure to appear on June ballot in Santa Clara County – The Mercury News
The Big Picture
A new parcel tax measure will appear on the June ballot in Santa Clara County that would generate about $17 million per year for the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority. The measure would impose a tax of 2 cents per square foot of building space, meaning a typical homeowner would pay roughly $32 to $50 annually.
If approved, the funds would support land acquisition, wildfire and habitat management, trail construction, and additional staffing to maintain the agency’s growing network of preserves across the county.
Why It Matters
The Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority has nearly doubled the land it manages over the past decade, yet its core operating funding has remained largely unchanged. Supporters argue that additional funding is needed to maintain preserves, expand public access, and continue acquiring land in key conservation areas such as the eastern foothills and Coyote Valley.
At the same time, the measure highlights the growing tension between conservation priorities and taxpayer concerns in one of the nation’s most expensive regions. While the tax amount per household is relatively small, voters will ultimately decide whether protecting open space, farmland, and wildlife habitat warrants additional public funding.
