FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: June 15, 2023
Contacts: Natalie Jolly, 650-625-6584, njolly@openspace.org
Midpen board approves FY24 Budget and Action Plan
Los Altos, CA— At its regular meeting on June 14, the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District board of directors adopted an $82.8 million budget to fund 124 projects, including 13 projects to address storm damage repairs, for the fiscal year running from July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024. These projects further Midpen’s work in meeting our Measure AA commitments and reflect the various Bayside and Coastside priorities, such as:
- Finalizing purchase of the Johnston Ranch property to expand Midpen’s presence on the San Mateo County Coastside and protect vital coastal grassland ecosystems, encourage viable agricultural use of land resources and preserve rural character.
- Continuing wildlife research with a focus on habitat assessments and enhancements for native species like mountain lions, newts and Santa Cruz kangaroo rats.
- Initiating final trail design and construction documents for the preferred Purisima-to-the-Sea trail alignment.
- Continuing permitting and design work for the Highway 17 Wildlife and Bay Area Ridge Trail Crossings projects to create safe wildlife passages.
“Over the past six months, staff has worked tirelessly to keep over 200 miles of Midpen trails safe and accessible in the face of unprecedented levels of damage caused by winter storms,” Midpen General Manager Ana Ruiz said. “There still remains significant storm damage requiring large scale repairs that are programmed in the upcoming Capital Improvement and Action Plan. This upcoming year, we will also be working on many projects that will expand ecologically sensitive public access to nature, protect natural resources and local wildlife populations, preserve additional acreage of open space lands, and encourage viable agricultural use of coastside land resources.”
Nearly a quarter of the projects (33) included in the FY24 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 (13%), natural resource protection and restoration (28%), public access, education and outreach (41%) and assets and organizational support (18%).
Total revenues and other funding sources are projected at $82.9 million, which includes property tax revenues of $71.9 million, Measure AA bond reimbursements of $7.4 million and grants, other funding sources and other revenues of $3.6 million. Midpen receives the majority (87%) of its total revenues from property taxes, with grants, interest, rental and other income (13%) making up the balance of the revenue sources.
The complete Budget and Action Plan and the Budget in Brief will be available in July at openspace.org/reports.