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https://n2v.almanacnews.com/square/print/2016/06/07/mrosd-measure-aa-and-the-san-francisco-bay-restoration-authority-

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MROSD, Measure AA, and the San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority

Original post made by Jack Hickey, Woodside: Emerald Hills, on Jun 7, 2016

The MidPeninsula Regional Open Space District(MROSD), originally established as the MidPeninsula Regional Park District, collects $35,000,000 in property taxes from the Counties in which it resides. A $12,000,000 portion of that comes from pre-prop 13 property taxes from South San Mateo County taxpayers. Recently, voters passed MROSD Measure AA which allowed them to issue $300,000,000 in bond debt supported by post-prop 13 advalorem property taxes. This taxes included the coastside annexation areas. Web Link
On the other side of the Bay, East Bay Regional Park District(EBRPD) collects $143,000,000 in pre-prop 13 property taxes from the Counties of Alameda and Contra Costa. Web Link
EBRPD includes:
ï‚· over 1,200 miles of trails within the parklands
ï‚· 6 freshwater lake swim beaches
ï‚· 3 large swim lagoons
ï‚· 2 San Francisco Bay beaches
ï‚· 3 disabled access swimming pools
ï‚· 40 lake fishing docks
ï‚· 3 bay fishing piers
ï‚· 235 family campsites
ï‚· 42 youth camping areas
ï‚· 21 backpacking camps
ï‚· 7 equestrian camps
ï‚· 2 golf courses
ï‚· 134 group picnic sites subject to reservation
ï‚· 10 interpretive and education centers
 18 children’s play areas
ï‚· 2 mobile exhibits
ï‚· wedding, meeting and banquet facilities

John Sutter, Director, East Bay Regional Park District, sits on the Board of the San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority(SFBRA), Web Link

Why did the SFBRA put Measure AA, a parcel tax, on the ballot. One would think it was pocket change for the two Regional Districts(along with a counterpart from the North Bay Counties) to pick up the tab.

MROSD has a problem which it hides on its' website. It does not collect a share of pre-prop 13 property taxes from the Coastside, central and northern parts of San Mateo County.

MROSD has the same problem as the Sequoia Healthcare District. By a countywide vote, they should either expand to include the entirety of San Mateo County, with funding from within the pre-prop 13 property taxes) or be detached from the county.



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