Santa Rosa ended the last fiscal year holding $11,066,045 in unspent money from Measure M, the countywide parks sales tax. On Nov. 3, Sonoma County voters decide whether to keep it going.
That balance is about four years of the city’s share. Santa Rosa took in $2,667,025 from the tax in the 2024-25 fiscal year and spent $1,854,683, according to the annual Measure M report to the community. It finished the year with more than it started with.
The renewal is Measure H. It would extend the one-eighth-cent sales tax voters approved in 2018 as Measure M, which expires in 2029. The rate wouldn’t go up. It needs two-thirds of the vote.
Where the money sits
Measure M brings in more than $15 million a year, according to Sonoma County Regional Parks. Two-thirds goes to Regional Parks. The other third is split among the county’s nine cities by population.
By the report’s figures, the nine cities’ available balances added up to $14,781,150 at the end of the 2024-25 fiscal year. Santa Rosa’s $11.07 million is about three-quarters of it. Regional Parks’ three accounts held another $6,672,076.
Santa Rosa’s balance has grown two years running. The city started the 2023-24 fiscal year with $8,268,880, took in $2,634,859 and spent $650,036. It ended at $10,253,703.
Other cities spent close to everything they had. Petaluma spent $921,559 and ended the year with $2,318. Cotati spent $225,000 and ended with $644; the report notes its balance was used to complete Kotate Park.
Healdsburg spent nothing and ended with $332,316. The city of Sonoma spent $42,538 and ended with $648,616.
Santa Rosa’s own tax measure
Santa Rosa has its own sales tax on the same ballot. Measure L would reauthorize a city sales tax at a one-cent rate.
In a Sept. 24 bulletin, the city said that “due to budget shortfalls,” it has already cut services, including fire, police, 911 response, street maintenance, permit review and recreational programs.
City Measure M funds “may not be used to reduce existing funding for parks and recreation,” according to Santa Rosa’s Measure M page.
What the city says the money is for
Santa Rosa splits its Measure M money three ways: 50% to new parks and renovations, 40% to enhancements and deferred maintenance, and 10% to recreation programs.
In April 2025, the Recreation and Parks Department gave the City Council a list of $12,443,536 in previous Measure M allocations to specific projects. Among them were Kawana Springs Community Park, a new park; tennis and pickleball court renovations at Howarth and Galvin parks; and sports fields at A Place to Play. Most were in design or planning, with bid dates running from June 2025 into 2027.
The money is “utilized for the projects nearest construction,” the department’s presentation said.