Measure AA

In June 2014, voters approved Measure AA, a 30-year, $300 million general obligation bond to protect natural and working lands; open preserve lands to the public; construct public access improvements such as new trails and parking/staging areas; and restore and enhance open space land, forests, streams, watersheds and coastal ranch areas.

MAA projects are grouped in 25 key project portfolios, organized by geographic area within District boundaries. Sales of bonds over the 20-30 year period generates the proceeds to fund the identified projects and allows the District to use property tax revenue for operational expenses, including maintaining preserves and trails, offering public programming and staff salaries. Midpen has also been able to leverage nearly $23 million in grants and partnership funding, plus $4 million in interest income from the bond proceeds to increase the total available MAA bond funding to $327.1 million, which helps in this era of rapidly increasing costs.

Midpen began using MAA funds in 2014 and has made significant progress (as of as June 30, 2023):

Preserved 9,687 acres
Opened 31.4 miles of trails (with 10+ miles in construction and 19+ miles of new trails in the planning stage)
Opened five new areas/preserves to the public: Mount Umunhum Summit of Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve, lower La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve, Bear Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve, and Mindego Gateway area of Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve.
Opened three new parking areas, creating a total of 126 new parking spaces
Expanded the conservation grazing program by entering into eight new agricultural leases at four preserves
Invested $33.9 million in Coastside projects
Completed work to close four of the 25 portfolios

Join us in 2024 as we celebrate 10 years of progress made possible by Measure AA. Scroll down to explore more.

Measure AA 10-Year Milestones

31.4

Miles of Trail

9,687

Acres Protected

29%

Funds Spent

Major Accomplishments

Group exploring Mount Umunhum summit / photo by Erin Ashford

Mt. Umunhum Public Access

People in Bear Creek Redwoods forest health project

Bear Creek Redwoods Public Access

two people on the observation deck overlooking the wetlands

Ravenswood Bay Trail Connection

Alpine Road Regional Trail Improvement

Cloverdale Ranch Acquisition

Project Portfolios

Voters approved Measure AA based on an expenditure plan that outlined 25 priority actions and project portfolios. Those priorities are part of a community-supported Vision Plan (which includes 54 portfolios in total) that began in 2012. Click on a photo below to explore the accomplishments and expenditures in each portfolio.

Measure AA Bond Accountability Report

The annual Measure AA Bond Accountability Report reflects MAA expenditures for the previous fiscal year. Expenditures, progress and major accomplishments within each of the 25 priority actions and project portfolios outlined in Measure AA, providing updates on project work completed within the fiscal year.

A Bond Oversight Committee (BOC) is appointed by the Midpen board of directors to ensure accountability, transparency and public oversight of all funds collected and allocated under MAA. The BOC consists of seven at-large members of the public who reside within District boundaries and review the Annual Accountability Report and expenditure plan in parallel each year, presenting findings to the board at a public meeting.

Read the FY23 Measure AA Bond Annual Accountability Report

Measure AA Background

Measure AA is a 30-year, $300 million general obligation bond that was approved on June 3, 2014, by more than two-thirds of voters residing within District boundaries. Measure AA authorized Midpen to issue up to $300 million in bonds, at a tax rate not to exceed $3.18 per $100,000 of assessed value of property owned.

Midpen's goal is to invest the bond proceeds to:

protect natural open space lands
restore and enhance open space land, which includes forests, streams, watersheds and coastal ranch areas
open preserves or areas of preserves that are currently closed to the public
construct public access improvements such as new trails and parking areas

Voter-Approved Measure AA Ballot Language

To improve access to hiking and biking opportunities, protect and preserve redwood forests, natural open spaces, the scenic beauty of our region and coastline, critical wildlife habitat, restore creeks to protect water quality, and reduce forest fire risk; shall Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District be authorized to issue up to $300 million in bonds, at a tax rate not to exceed $3.18 per $100,000 of assessed value of property owned, with expenditures verified by an independent citizen oversight committee.

Pursuant to Measure AA, a Bond Oversight Committee (BOC) is appointed by the Midpen board of directors to ensure accountability, transparency and public oversight of all funds collected and allocated under MAA. The BOC consists of seven at-large members of the public who reside within District boundaries and has the following role and responsibilities:

Review plan expenditures on an annual basis to verify conformity with the expenditure plan.
Review District's annual audit and annual accountability report and present the committee's findings to the board at a public meeting.
Review any proposed amendments to the expenditure plan.

Learn more about the Bond Oversight Committee.

Due to legislative naming conventions, there are two conservation-related Measure AAs in the Bay Area. Midpen's 2014 Measure AA is not related to the San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority's 2016 Measure AA - San Francisco Bay Clean Water, Pollution Prevention and Habitat Restoration Measure, a $12 parcel tax that funds projects to protect, restore and enhance the San Francisco Bay. Depending on where you live, you may see both Measure AAs listed on your property tax bill.

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Measure AA

Measure AA 10-Year Milestones