SPRING 2022 MALT.ORG
Measure A Plays an Important Role in Marin’s Sustainable Agriculture In 2012, Marin County residents voted overwhelmingly to approve Measure A, a quarter-cent sales tax dedicated to protecting the parks, open spaces, and farmland that make Marin an extraordinary place to live, work, and play. In June 2022, county voters will have the chance to renew the measure. At MALT, we strongly support renewal because we’ve seen first-hand how this funding tool has benefitted Marin. From the start, 20% of Measure A funds have been devoted to protecting agricultural lands, primarily by helping to purchase agricultural conservation easements. These easements permanently protect agricultural land for agricultural use and preserve open spaces, while enabling Marin farmers and ranchers to keep working the land. To date, MALT has leveraged nearly $13.3 million in Measure A funds toward 11 agricultural conservation easements,
permanently protecting almost 6,700 acres of farm and ranch land. Measure A is a great example of a public/private partnership that has doubled the value of private donations and increased the pace of protection. Preserving agricultural land helps prevent large-scale development, with its increased traffic, fire risk, pollution, and loss of precious natural and scenic values. Well-tended agricultural land boosts the local economy through employment, production of food and fiber products, and tax revenues. And it improves the ecological health of the region through greater biodiversity, carbon sequestration, stream and creek rehabilitation, and wildfire protection. Measure A is one way for county residents to contribute directly to our shared vision for a healthy Marin. See page 2 of this newsletter to find out how you can support Measure A.