How Much is Marin's Natural Beauty Worth to You? Could Be Time to Pay Up

How much are you willing to spend to preserve Marin's parks, open space and farmland? How about a quarter of a penny for each dollar you spend? How about doing that for nine years?

Voters, it's looking like that proposal will be on your November ballot.

The Marin County Board of Supervisors decided this week to schedule an Aug. 7 hearing on the merits of the temporary tax proposal to float Marin County Parks. That day is a make-or-break day for getting it on the Nov. 6 ballot.

According to a county staff report, it's taken decades of community effort to build and maintain a collection of land set aside for pastoral assets. The argument could be defended that such undeveloped lands and parks are a big reason why people want to live here.

Take a quick inventory and decide what you tend to use: McNear's Beach Park, Stafford Lake, Point Reyes Playground, Tiburon Uplands, Agate Beach, Indian Tree Preserve, Rush Creek Preserve, Bothin Park, Baltimore Canyon, Bald Hill, Mount Burdell ... the list keeps on going.

Now, a funding crisis has hampered the county's to take good care of that land. The annual budget of $12 million is considered insufficient to cover the scope of services and maintain what's been set aside. Parks staff has polled more than 600 voters and held three public meetings to gauge support, and the prevailing response was "take care of what you already have," according to the report.

Over nine years, the proposed tax increase would yield about $10 million per year for the cause. The money could allow the county to increase its land acquisition, too.

The deadline is approaching to get ballot language to the county registrar's office. The Aug. 7 meeting is only three days before the door is closed.

What are your thoughts about this? Read the language of the attached proposal. Share a comment below and vote in our survey.