How much revenue does Measure K raise?
Fiscal Year Amount
July 1, 2017 - June 30, 2018 $89,602,981
July 1, 2016 - June 30, 2017 $83,033,888
July 1, 2015 - June 30, 2016 $79,888,971
July 1, 2014 - June 30, 2015 $80,598,111
July 1, 2013 - June 30, 2014 $75,577,548
July 1, 2012 - June 30, 2013 $4,397,205

Note: a half-cent sales tax adds 10 cents to a taxable purchase of $20, and 50 cents to a taxable purchase of $100. Prescription drugs and most groceries are exempt from sales tax.

What are the expenditures?

Category FY 2013-14 FY 2014-15 FY 2015-16 FY 2016-17 FY 2017-18
Public Safety $228,119 $1,285,944 $4,511,842 $8,030,731 $13,526,145
Health and Mental Health $11,357,884 $13,588,188 $2,071,031 $5,878,153 $11,538,359
Youth and Education $2,034,153 $4,657,981 $7,707,190 $9,848,136 $16,666,482
Housing and Homelessness $2,105,830 $1,656,064 $5,329,043 $17,124,988 $19,331,031
Parks and Environment $281,331 $2,924,610 $2,307,862 $2,992,735 $2,321,755
Older Adults and Veterans Services   $228,074 $2,137,474 $2,814,243 $2,742,400
Community Services $7,386,592 $12,055,345 $20,017,342 $10,455,720 $20,043,590
District Specific/Discretionary       $1,055,009 $2,247,098
Totals $24,113,909 $36,396,204 $44,081,784 $58,199,715 $88,416,871

Note: Initiatives funded by Measure K are placed in a category (Public Safety, Parks and Environment) for ease of tracking and to help determine community impact. District Specific/Discretionary refers to expenditures recommended by a member of the Board of Supervisors (and approved by the full Board) to meet unanticipated or unmet community needs.

Ongoing and One-Time Allocations

Each year, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors invests funds from the local Measure K sales tax on local needs. Our Budget, Policy and Performance Unit  tracks these investments as one-time allocations or as ongoing allocations.

One-time allocations are typically capital and infrastructure projects. These initiatives may span several budget cycles but are considered "one-time" as they are for a fixed project.

Ongoing allocations are typically for initiatives that span multiple years and require hiring additional staff or entering into long-term contracts with community-based partners. Examples include boosting services for children in foster care and creating an ongoing task force that investigates and prosecutes elder abuse. 

The following highlights budgeted one-time vs. ongoing allocations for the current 2018-19 fiscal year. Scroll or click on the left panel to advance the display.