County Update
With Santa Clara County
Supervisor Mike Wasserman
Supervisor Mike Wasserman was elected to the Santa Clara
County Board of Supervisors in 2010, and re-elected in 2014 and
2018. He represents District 1, which includes Gilroy, San Martin,
Morgan Hill, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno and portions
of San Jose (supervisorwasserman.org).
For 30 years, I was a Certifi ed Financial Planner managing investments for clients, and 2019 marks the 17th public budget I have
worked on as an elected offi cial. I have a “head for numbers and a heart for people,” and my goal for public budgeting is simple: Match
the needs of our residents with the tax dollars available. But as we all know, what is simple is not always easy. The current needs of our
two million residents far outpace revenues, which makes this year’s budget a herculean balancing act.
T
he County’s 2020 $8.1 billion
budget funds vital services that
hold the fabric of our society together,
but are often invisible to residents. In
addition to providing everyday health
and safety services, we are building a
much-needed new jail with increased
mental health capabilities. We are
also investing ballot measure funds
to address the countywide housing
crisis and assimilating two hospitals
into our system, adding hospital beds
and ensuring hospital and emergency
services are maintained in South
County. Some of my specifi c funding
proposals included one-time payments
of $50,000 for the South Santa Clara
Valley Memorial District Veterans Hall
renovations and $75,000 for the YMCA
of Silicon Valley’s Project Cornerstone
to support anti-bullying and violence
prevention in 72 schools.
Another budget milestone is
funding for agricultural easements.
In the past 30 years, 21,171 acres of
farm and range land have been lost to
development. In alignment with the
Santa Clara Valley Agricultural Plan,
42
the Board of Supervisors allocated $5
million for the Regional Agricultural
Conservation Easement Program which
will permanently protect agricultural
lands through voluntary conservation
easements with sellers. Because limiting
the development of a property lowers
its value, farmers are paid for the loss
of development potential in exchange
for not selling their farmland for
development. The $5 million is a good
start -- and it makes the County eligible
to receive $15 million in matching State
funds -- but it is not as much as we
wanted or is needed. We need others
in the community to step forward and
partner with the County to identify
more funding for this program.
At the county level of government,
we don’t control the decisions made
in Washington and Sacramento or
what happens with the economy.
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
august/september 2019
But we must adjust to them. Much
of the County’s budget is comprised
of “pass through” State and Federal
funds that pay for mandated services,
which is why we are constantly adjust-
ing to change and challenges in these
uncertain times. The good news is that
we are on track to fund vital programs
and tackle new projects so as to main-
tain and improve County services for all
our residents. I am proud to be a part of
making your tax dollars work for you,
and for providing “Real. Life. Help.” to
our two million residents.
gmhtoday.com