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Property Assessment Roll Reaches Record High
The County of San Mateo's assessed value of all taxable property hit an all-time high of $265.8 billion as of Jan. 1, 2021, an increase of 4.16 percent from the prior year due to record-setting single-family home values driven by a strong demand during the pandemic. The roll reflects overall growth throughout the county in all 20 cities and unincorporated areas. The top five cities with the highest dollar growth in assessed value are Menlo Park, South San Francisco, San Mateo, San Carlos and Redwood City.
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Board Approves $6.3 Billion Two-Year Spending Plan
The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors at its June 23, 2021, meeting approved a $6.3 billion two-year budget shaped by the COVID-19 pandemic, the structural inequities it brought to the forefront and the innovations developed to continue providing critical services. The spending plan for Fiscal Years 2021-22 and 2022-23 prioritizes an accelerated effort to end homelessness, improve childhood literacy, upgrade infrastructure to better serve the community, improve the quality of life through major upgrades to County parks and hiring a new chief equity officer. The Board will adopt the final budget in September 2021 after considering any proposed revisions.
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$1M Grant to Fund Quarry Park Fire Mitigation Project
Crews this summer will inspect, trim and remove trees and thick brush to reduce the fire risk in Quarry Park, a County Park located in El Granada. This much-needed work will be accomplished in part thanks to a $1 million grant to the San Mateo Resource Conservation District (RCD) from the state Coastal Conservancy. Quarry Park is classified by CAL FIRE as a very high fire severity zone. The project is slated to begin in August 2021.
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Apply Now for COVID-19 Emergency Rent Relief
The Board of Supervisors allocated $1 million to the San Mateo County Emergency Financial Assistance Program to help renters earning 60 percent or below of the area’s median income who do not qualify for the state’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP). ERAP is open to renters who have experienced a financial hardship due to COVID-19, have past due rent and a household income not more than 80 percent of the area median income. Landlords with income-eligible renters experiencing a financial hardship due to COVID-19 with past due rent can also apply. Applicants may qualify regardless of immigration status and will not be required to show proof of citizenship.
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Public Asked For Input on Hazard Mitigation Plan
The County’s Department of Emergency Management is developing the county’s updated Multijurisdictional Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) to help reduce the risk from natural and man-made disasters such as earthquakes, fire, flooding, and extreme weather. The County seeks the public’s help in identifying solutions to the problems associated with natural hazards and invites residents to participate in the mitigation plan by attending a Steering Committee meeting on July 26 and/or a public workshop on Aug. 13.
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Vaccination Widely Available in San Mateo County
COVID-19 vaccinations are available throughout San Mateo County, at County-sponsored clinics, community clinics, private health care providers, pharmacies and other venues. There are clinics in San Mateo County every day of the week for those 12 and older. Locations include East Palo Alto, North Fair Oaks, San Mateo, South San Francisco, Daly City, and Half Moon Bay. Appointments can be made via https://myturn.ca.gov/ four or more days before the date of the clinic — but appointments are not required. The vaccine is safe, effective and free. Find clinics here.Testing, even for those fully vaccinated, remains essential. Find locations here.
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Property Owners Allowed to Remove Certain Trees
The County of San Mateo is making it easier for property owners to remove highly flammable eucalyptus and trees of certain other species to create fire breaks near homes and escape routes. Effective July 1, 2021, property owners in unincorporated areas of the county no longer need a permit to remove certain large trees located within 100 feet of homes or 30 feet of an escape route on public or private property. The County is waiving the tree-removal permit for one year, from July 1, 2021 to July 1, 2022. The waiver also saves property owners the normal $350 permit fee.
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