Parks for All – Measure M annual tax funding report highlights cumulative investments in parks, trails, programs

The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors this week approved the latest Parks for All – Measure M annual report, which details how the voter-approved sales tax continues to strengthen regional and city parks across Sonoma County.

The report approved March 10 shows that parks departments improved parks, trails, open spaces, playgrounds and sports facilities with nearly $15 million in Measure M sales tax revenue in the 2024-25 fiscal year.

Regional Parks invested $10.5 million in Measure M funding while the county’s cities spent $4.4 million. The tax generated more than $15.8 million in the fiscal year, with unspent revenue reserved for future projects.

Sonoma County voters approved Measure M in 2018, establishing the one-eighth-cent sales tax to support local parks for 10 years. Two-thirds of the annual revenue goes to Sonoma County Regional Parks while one-third is distributed to the county’s cities based on population.

The report shows that since tax collection began in early 2019, the county and cities have invested nearly $70 million to maintain parks and trails, protect natural landscapes and expand recreation opportunities for communities countywide.

“Measure M continues to deliver on its commitment to care for and improve our parks,” said Supervisor Lynda Hopkins, board chair in the 2025 reporting year. “These local dollars help us keep parks safe and welcoming, restore natural areas and leverage additional state and federal grants to stretch every investment even further.”

Some of the Regional Parks projects supported by Measure M since its inception include the creation of the 2,000-acre Monte Rio Redwoods Regional Park and Preserve, new trails at Taylor and Hood mountains in Santa Rosa and Helen Putnam Regional Park in Petaluma, major renovations of Maxwell Farms and Larson parks in the Sonoma Valley and the rebuilding of Foothill Regional Park in Windsor after the Kincade Fire.

The tax revenue has added restrooms, bolstered park maintenance, reduced wildfire risk, protected wildlife and waterways and expanded community programs that connect residents to nature through field trips, bilingual outreach, youth internships and senior outings.

“This year's report demonstrates the year-over-year impact of having sales tax dollars dedicated to regional and local parks,” said Regional Parks Director Bert Whitaker. “With Measure M revenue, we’re taking care of parks at a level that wasn’t possible before. We hope residents see how the past six years of investments are transforming parks in their communities and around the county.”  

Cities have used their share of funding to repair playgrounds and neighborhood parks, renovate sports fields and splash pads, add pickleball courts, improve trails and pathways, expand recreation programs and summer camps, hire maintenance staff and plan for other park improvements.

The Measure M report is compiled annually by Sonoma County Regional Parks, with county and city parks representatives working with a citizen oversight committee to ensure the year’s expenditures complied with the measure’s intent.  

The Parks for All – Measure M annual report is available in English and Spanish at SoCoParks.org/ParksForAll.  

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Media Contact:  
Meda Freeman 
Marketing & Communications Manager 
(707) 565-2275 
meda.freeman@sonomacounty.gov 
SonomaCountyParks.org