Contact: Natalie Jolly, 650-691-1200
Midpen board approves FY23 Budget and Action Plan
Los Altos, CA— At its regular meeting on June 8, the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District board of directors adopted an $84 million budget to fund 95 key projects and 16 supporting projects for the fiscal year running from July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023. These projects further Midpen’s work in meeting our Measure AA commitments and reflects the various Bayside and Coastside priorities, such as:
Potential purchase of Cloverdale Ranch property and expansion of Midpen’s presence on the San Mateo County Coastside by finalizing the purchases of the Johnston Ranch uplands and South Cowell Upland properties near Half Moon Bay.
Beginning construction on Bear Creek Redwoods Phase II Trail Improvements and Alpine Road Regional Trail projects to expand public access.
Updates to our agricultural policy and investments in our conservation grazing infrastructure.
Continuing to study multimodal access at popular preserves and to implement near-term ideas to reduce parking demands and promote greener modes of travel.
“The Budget and Action Plan reflects the board’s updated strategic plan goals and objectives for the upcoming years,” Midpen General Manager Ana Ruiz said, “Emphasis is placed on preserving significant open space in agricultural lands; expanding the greenbelt, which enhances our values of nature and restoring biodiversity; creating protected wildlife corridors; building climate resilience and encouraging equitable community connections to our preserves.”
Over a quarter of the projects (26) included in the FY23 Capital Improvement and Action Plan section of the budget are eligible for reimbursement through Measure AA, the 30-year, $300 million general obligation bond approved by voters in 2014. Action plan projects span across the four main program areas supporting Midpen’s strategic goals: land acquisition and preservation, natural resource protection and restoration, public access, education and outreach, and assets and organizational support.
Total revenues and other funding sources are projected at $84.3 million, which includes property tax revenues of $67.9 million, bond reimbursements of $7.3 million, and other funding sources, grants and other revenues of $9.1 million. Midpen receives the majority (91%) of its total revenues from property taxes, with grants, interest, rental, and other income (9%) making up the balance of the revenue sources.
The complete Budget and Action Plan and the Budget in Brief are available at openspace.org/reports.
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The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District’s mission is to acquire and preserve a regional greenbelt of open space land of regional significance in perpetuity, protect and restore the natural environment and provide opportunities for ecologically sensitive public enjoyment and education. On the San Mateo County coast, our mission also includes preserving agricultural land of regional significance and rural character and encouraging viable agricultural use of land resources. Midpen has successfully protected more than 70,000 acres of public open space land in the Santa Cruz Mountains region since 1972.
openspace.org