SMC Begins Evaluating Measure K Proposals

REDWOOD CITY, CA — San Mateo County staffers are combing through more than 300 proposals from groups seeking to tap Measure K sales tax revenue to fund projects to serve children, families and seniors, and enhance emergency preparedness, homeless services and housing access on the Peninsula.

The county began soliciting proposals in November, and the submission deadline passed last week. Officials said the requests in the 315 applications received amount to $750 million over three years — a figure more than seven times higher than the Measure K funds allotted for the proposals.

Staff members will spend the next few weeks examining each proposal to inform funding recommendations to be shared with the Board of Supervisors in March.

"We asked for bold, innovative ideas to serve our residents and I'm sure this significant applicant pool is full of them," said County Executive Mike Callagy. "But the asks, frankly, far outweigh the funds we have available. The evaluation committees will review each application thoroughly and thoughtfully to ensure that funding goes to those projects that provide the greatest good to the largest swath of the county and the most vulnerable."

Proposed services for children, families and seniors made up the bulk of the applications, numbering 232, the county said. Another 55 addressed housing and homelessness services, with 28 addressing emergency preparedness efforts.

After the Board of Supervisors receives funding recommendations in March, the county is set to begin the contracts in July. The county has between $35 million and $37 million in Measure K funding to award annually to the projects.