Redwood City – San Mateo County staff are now evaluating 315 applications requesting Measure K sales tax funds as part of a community process to match Board of Supervisors’ priorities in three critical areas: children, families and seniors; emergency preparedness; and, housing and homelessness.
The County released a Notice of Funding Opportunity soliciting proposals in November 2023 and the application window closed Friday, Jan. 5. County staff worked through the weekend to process the applications so that evaluation can start this week.
The requests total $750 million over three years. The first year of requests alone totals more than $251 million. This is more than seven times the $35 million to $37 million available annually from the County, meaning the available money can only cover 14 percent of the requests.
“We asked for bold, innovative ideas to serve our residents and I’m sure this significant applicant pool is full of them. But the asks, frankly, far outweigh the funds we have available,” said County Executive Mike Callagy. “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.”
Of the 315 applications received, 232 are services for children, families and seniors ($158.8 million in year one requests); 28 address emergency preparedness ($19 million in year one requests); and, 55 address housing and homelessness ($73.4 million in year one requests). The evaluation committees are not required to recommend to the Board equal funding in each priority area.
The Board of Supervisors is expected to hear funding recommendations in March 2024 with contracts beginning by July 1, 2024.
Learn more about past Measure K-funded initiatives, the oversight committee and annual reports at https://www.smcgov.org/ceo/measure-k
Michelle Durand
Chief Communications Officer
mdurand@smcgov.org