Measure Q
Overview
Mission Statement
Measure Q, formally titled the “Santa Cruz County Safe Drinking Water, Clean Beaches, Wildfire Risk Reduction, and Wildlife Protection Act,” was enacted by adding Chapter 4.65 to the County Code to fund projects aimed at protecting drinking water sources, rivers, creeks, groundwater, beaches, and parks; reducing catastrophic wildfire risks; and preserving native wildlife, habitats, working lands, and agriculture—with citizens’ oversight, annual reporting, public spending disclosure, and all funds distributed locally—until ended by voters.
Department Overview
Measure Q is not a single department but rather a source of funds administered by both the Department of Parks, Open Spaces and Cultural Services and the Office of Response, Resilience and Recovery. It establishes a dedicated Safe Drinking Water, Clean Beaches, Wildfire Risk Reduction, and Wildlife Protection Fund within the County treasury, with all revenues and related interest. Funds are only to be used for purposes outlined in the ordinance, including administering the parcel tax and compliance mechanisms.
The ordinance specifies the annual distribution of revenues (after deducting administrative and oversight costs) as:
- 40 % to eligible County-administered grant programs,
- 20 % allocated to incorporated cities (per capita, with a minimum of $200,000 per city),
- 20 % for projects in unincorporated areas,
- 20 % to the Resource Conservation District and a local land-stewardship partner for private-lands projects delivering public benefit.
The Measure also mandates accountability: the creation of a nine-member Citizens Oversight Advisory Board to conduct hearings, receive annual project reports, and approve a five-year vision plan; establishment of annual public reporting of revenues and expenditures; and creation of separate fund accounts for transparency.
Budget Summary
Department Budget Overview
Adopted Budget Summary
The Adopted Budget included total appropriations of $8,934,220, funded by revenues of $8,934,220.
Budget Summary
The budget increased expenses and revenues by $8,934,220 from the creation of this new departmental budget. The budget included expenses of $480,000 in administrative and operational costs, which covered the expense of one full-time Senior Administrative Analyst in Office of Response, Recovery, and Resilience (OR3) as well as other staffing, technology, and professional services. To maximize direct investment in the statutory purposes of Measure Q, only actual expenses will be charged to the measure. The budget also provided for the repayment of $160,000 to the General Fund Contingency, approved on January 28, 2025, which represented a one-time allocation used to initiate operations. In addition, the Budget provided for $2,684,740 in grants to other agencies, $1,402,370 in contributions to land partners, $1,402,370 in contributions to cities, $1,402,370 for special project costs, and $1,402,370 for internal transfer in and offsetting transfer out.
Emerging Issues
Emerging Issues
Administrative Demands: The County faces increasing administrative and staffing demands to comply with Measure Q legal mandates, maintain public trust, and ensure equitable access to grant-funded programs. These requirements are growing in scope due to heightened equity standards and community expectations for transparency. Without sufficient administrative capacity, the County risks non-compliance with legal requirements, reduced program participation, and diminished public confidence. If not adequately resourced, administrative constraints may delay grant disbursements, limit equitable community access, and reduce the County’s ability to respond to new funding opportunities. Conversely, investment in administrative support would expand service reach, particularly to historically underserved communities, and strengthen compliance capacity. Proactively addressing these administrative demands positions the County to maximize grant revenues and enhance equitable access. However, failure to augment resources could jeopardize compliance, reduce competitiveness for external funding, and erode public trust.
Climate Change: Emerging climate change impacts create both challenges and opportunities for implementing the Santa Cruz County Measure Q grant program. Rising wildfire risk, sea-level rise, extreme heat, and flooding events are intensifying local hazards, threatening the very ecosystems, water resources, and communities Measure Q seeks to protect. These shifting conditions increase the urgency of investing in wildfire fuel reduction, water quality improvements, and habitat restoration while also demanding more flexible, forward-looking project designs that can adapt to uncertain future climate scenarios. Equity is also a key issue—low-income, immigrant, and rural communities often face the greatest risks and the fewest resources for recovery, making it essential that Measure Q funds be distributed in ways that reduce disparities and strengthen resilience across the county.
Department Operations and Performance
Major Budget Changes
Sort By Division:
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2025-26 Ongoing Budget Increase / (Decrease) |
2025-26 One-time Budget Increase / (Decrease) |
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Budget Details
The charts below show department expenditures and revenues by division and service. Click on the pie charts to drill down for more detail. Complete detail can be found on the County's Transparency Portal.