Measure H on the Nov. 3 ballot: what Sonoma County's parks tax pays for in creeks

By The Downspout · Posted Nov 1, 2026 · 3 min read

On Tuesday, November 3, 2026, Sonoma County voters decide Measure H. It would keep the county's one-eighth-cent parks sales tax after it expires in March 2029, at the same rate, until voters end it. About 18% would go to natural resource work in county parks, including creek and streamside projects for fish, wildlife and water quality. It needs two-thirds of the vote.

What Measure H is

Measure H is a countywide measure on the November 3, 2026 ballot. Every Sonoma County voter sees it.

It is not the county's 2024 fire tax, which was also called Measure H. That one is a half-cent sales tax voters passed in March 2024.^[1] It is not on this ballot.

This Measure H is about parks. In 2018, voters passed a one-eighth-cent sales tax for county and city parks, called Measure M back then. It runs out on March 31, 2029. Measure H would keep it going from April 1, 2029, at the same rate, until voters end it.^[2] The rate would not go up.

One-eighth of a cent is 12.5 cents on every $100 of taxable shopping.

What it would pay for in creeks and rivers

The ballot question lists "safeguard water supplies, streams, rivers" and "preserve fish and wildlife habitat" among its goals.^[2]

The ballot question says about $15.5 million a year. The county auditor estimates $17.1 million for the first full year, July 2029 to June 2030. The measure includes a spending plan that splits the money four ways:^[2]

City parks, 33.3%. Each city gets a share. Allowed uses include improving trails along waterways to help fish, wildlife habitat and water quality.
County park upkeep and safety, 25%.
Public access and trails, 23.4%. Including access to the coast and rivers.
Natural resources in county parks, 18.3%. Roughly $3 million a year. Allowed uses include work on waterways and streamside land for fish, wildlife and water quality, soil and wildlife monitoring, cutting fire fuel and invasive plants, and grazing.

The spending plan lists no flood control projects.

What the current tax has done

The county's annual report says the 2018 tax brought in nearly $15 million in the 2024-25 fiscal year for county and city parks.^[3] The county says it has paid for new trails, park repairs, habitat restoration and wildfire risk reduction since 2019.^[4]

Measure H would have a seven-member oversight committee and an annual independent audit.^[2]

Who is for and against

The argument for it in the county's official voter guide is signed by the leaders of Fire Safe Sonoma, Sonoma County Farm Trails and the Sonoma County Regional Parks Foundation, State Senator Mike McGuire, and a nonprofit leader.^[2]

No one filed an argument against it in the official voter guide.^[2]

Among groups that publish voting picks, Bay Ballot counts 8 recommending yes, including the Sonoma County Democratic Party and Greenbelt Alliance, and 2 recommending no, Reform California, a conservative advocacy group, and the Sonoma County Republican Party. Reform California says it extends a costly sales tax despite wasteful government spending.^[5]

What it means for you

Measure H decides whether the parks tax, which includes some creek and habitat money, continues past March 2029.

If it fails, the current tax still runs until March 31, 2029.^[2]

We do not take positions on ballot measures. Our sister site Home Ready Sonoma covers Measure H's fire spending, plus the Santa Rosa, Windsor and Rohnert Park tax measures. For statewide water, see our post on Prop 45.

What happens next

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Measure H needs two-thirds of the votes cast on it to pass, because it is a special tax, meaning the money can only go to the uses it lists.^[2] For where and how to vote, see the Sonoma County Registrar of Voters.^[6]

Photos by Devan Hemmings unless noted.

Sources

Checked 2026-11-01. Rules and programs change. If something here is out of date, the source above wins. Spot an error? See our corrections policy.