This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Politics & Government

County Land A Source Of Income?

Supervisors will meet tomorrow to discuss ways to increase revenue, including selling or leasing property.

The San Mateo County Supervisors will brainstorm possible revenue sources that could help close the county's $50 million budget gap in a study session Tuesday afternoon.

Property is the county's most valuable and available asset and the most easily liquidated, says a report by County Manager David Boesch.

Opportunities exist for the county to increase its income by leveraging the land it owns, the report indicates.

"Not all County property is fully utilized or necessarily occupied by its highest and best use," it says.

Supervisors could consider selling or leasing county-owned property in downtown Redwood City and parcels in unincorporated areas including North Fair Oaks and Harbor Boulevard near Belmont or the San Francisco International Airport.

The report also identifies the county's Event Center, Medical Center and properties in unincorporated areas such as Tower Road and Coyote Point near San Mateo, and Princeton-By-The-Sea on the coast as land that could be used to bring in additional income.

Liquidating or leveraging property will not provide a cure-all but a supplement: "We need to recognize that economic development is not a silver bullet solution to our budget deficit."

Supervisors may also be asked to address related elements of an economically viable community, such as enough available affordable housing.

Supervisors and staff could also work more closely with the Workforce Investment Board, which is a county operated initiative compromised of local independent business owners, on ways to improve the existing economic climate.

"There are a range of options available to your Board as you discuss how to proceed and where best to focus our County’s efforts, as we look to ratchet up our involvement by complementing the efforts of our economic development partners," Boesch advised.

Though no official decision will be made at the study session tomorrow, supervisors will give directions and recommendations to staff in order to begin taking action on potential sources of economic development.

The public is invited to watch and participate in the study session, which begins at 2:30 p.m. in the board chambers at 400 County Center in Redwood City.

Supervisors will meet for a regularly scheduled board meeting beginning at  9 a.m. in the board chambers.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?