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photo credit: Sonoma County Regional ParksBennett Peak is seen from the East Knoll overlook
in Sonoma County’s Taylor Mountain Regional Park
and Open Space Preserve. A trail construction project
opened eight miles of new trails to hikers, mountain bikers
and equestrians in 2025.
Sonoma County voters will decide in November whether to extend a sales tax that funds the county's regional and city parks without raising taxes after the board of supervisors voted Tuesday to place the measure on the ballot.
If approved by two-thirds of voters on Nov. 3, the measure would extend the county's existing eighth-cent sales tax, first approved as Measure M in 2018, when it expires in 2029.The proposal would not increase the current tax rate or create a new tax.
According to the county, Measure M generates more than $15 million a year to maintain and improve parks, expand trails, renovate recreation facilities, reduce wildfire risks and improve public access to outdoor spaces.
Two-thirds of the revenue supports Sonoma County Regional Parks, while the remaining one-third is distributed among the county's nine cities based on population.
The tax amounts to about 3 cents on a $25 purchase and 12 cents on a $100 purchase.
Since taking effect in 2019, the funding has supported new trails, park improvements, habitat restoration, wildfire risk reduction and recreation programs. County officials said the revenue has also helped local agencies secure additional state, federal and private grant funding by providing required matching funds.
Earlier this year, Sonoma County Regional Parks officials surveyed residents about the tax, receiving more than 2,000 responses. Officials said 86% of respondents supported continuing parks funding at the current tax rate.
If approved, the renewed measure would continue to include independent citizen oversight, annual public reporting on spending and a requirement that the money be used only for eligible regional and city park projects, county officials said.
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