Measure Q headed toward approval in the November election results. (Stephen Baxter — Santa Cruz Local file)

SANTA CRUZ >> Measure Q, the Water and Wildfire Protection parcel tax in Santa Cruz County, had 59.2% approval as of 4 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 12.

The measure requires more than 50% of the vote to be adopted. Results are expected to be updated this month and finalized in early December.

What would Measure Q do?

Measure Q is an $87 annual parcel tax that would raise an estimated $7.5 million annually for projects that manage open space, protect water sources and reduce fire risk in Santa Cruz County. 

The money would be split between government agencies and nonprofits in Santa Cruz County. 

• 20% of the money, about $1.5 million annually would go to the Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz County and a nonprofit partner selected by an oversight board for projects on privately owned land. The partner must be a Santa Cruz County-based nonprofit that has operated for at least 10 years and owns and manages private open space. The Land Trust of Santa Cruz County meets those criteria, and its executive director said she was unsure whether any other nonprofits do.
• 20% would go to cities within Santa Cruz County, split proportionally by population.
• 20% would go to the county Department of Parks, Open Space, and Cultural Services and the county Office of Response, Recovery and Resilience for projects outside of cities. 

The remaining 40% of the money — $3 million annually — would fund county-administered grants to nonprofits or public agencies. The grant program would favor projects that support resilience to climate change, have matching funds or serve disadvantaged communities.

• At least $600,000 of the grant money would go to San Vicente Redwoods, an 8,900-acre privately owned forest managed by the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County, Peninsula Open Land Trust, the Sempervirens Fund and Save the Redwoods League. San Vicente Redwoods is “the property protected by the largest conservation easement in the county” in the ballot measure language.
• At least another $600,000 of the grant money would fund projects near South County rivers, streams and wetlands.

For more information on Measure Q, read Santa Cruz Local’s Election Guide.

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