Measures AA & A: What You Need to Know

Measure AA:

This June, the Bay Area’s nine counties will be deciding upon Measure AA, a $12 annual parcel tax that would go toward protecting and restoring the San Francisco Bay. The tax will raise $25 million annually for 20 years or $500 million in total.

It’s a historic opportunity for the Bay Area. Measure AA would create a stable revenue source for wetland restoration. It would support projects similar to our work at Bair Island, a 3,000-acre property just east of Redwood City and the largest restorable wetland in the Bay Area.

We protected Bair Island in 1997 and soon after began work with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to restore this degraded landscape. After over a decade of hard work, we’re already seeing the impact of this effort.

Bair Island is coming back to life. We are witnessing the return of native plants, hundreds of species of birds and numerous endangered species like the salt marsh harvest mouse. These wetlands also now protect our communities from coastal flooding and help filter pollutants from nearby waterways. Bair Island is now a community treasure and safe haven for wildlife.

Our work at Bair Island represents the potential of Measure AA and what’s possible for the future of the San Francisco Bay. It’s an exciting time to be a voter in the Bay Area, especially for nature lovers looking to make an impact.

Learn more about the specifics of Measure AA here.

Measure A:

Before you go, there’s another ballot measure you should be aware of. Santa Clara County residents, this one’s for you. This June, you will be deciding on Measure A, an opportunity to increase funding for the County’s parks.

It’s not a new tax, just a reallocation of funding. If passed, Measure A would raise the set aside funds for County Parks from 1.425 cents per $100 of assessed value of personal property to 1.5 cents (or from approximately $54 million annually to $57). It would also extend the life of County Park funding from June, 2021 to June, 2032.

Santa Clara County Parks (SCCP) is one of POST’s closest conservation partners. Many of the properties we’ve protected in the Santa Clara County have since been transferred to SCCP. They now provide outstanding recreational opportunities for all Bay Area residents and safeguard important habitat for wildlife.  

Learn more about Measure A here.