SMC Supes Consider $34.5M For Social Safety Nets

REDWOOD CITY, CA — The Board of Supervisors is considering a recommended funding package that would tap $34.5 million in Measure K funds to bolster services for children, families and seniors, homelessness initiatives and emergency preparedness work.

County officials said the proposal follows a year of "extensive community engagement," via listening sessions, surveys and other outreach to identify residents' priorities.

"We asked the public what they need to thrive," said Warren Slocum, the board's president. "The answers we received are clear: programs and services focused on those most in need of a lift as well as importing our ability to plan for and respond to emergencies."

The plan earmarks $16 million for children, families and seniors, $15 million for housing and homelessness, and $3.5 million for emergency preparedness. Dozens of staffers and experts participated in 11 panels to consider more than 300 community applications for funding, scoring each according to impact, experience, qualification and other measures.

The board will revisit the recommendations at its March 36 meeting, along with another $75.5 million in Measure K revenues to support other county services. The new contracts will go into effect in July.