Image: Santa Cruz County VoteMobile. 

Santa Cruz County Supervisor, District 5

Measure E: Emergency Care for All

The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to place Measure E on the ballot in response to significant reductions in federal and state funding that will negatively impact funding for County services and local health and human services providers. (Read more about federal impacts on the Santa Cruz County website).  

If approved, Measure E would temporarily increase Santa Cruz County’s transactions-and-use tax (or “sales tax”) by one-half percent for five years, beginning April 1, 2027, to protect essential County services.  

The tax would not apply to everyday necessities such as groceries, prescription medications, diapers, or feminine hygiene products. Eligible purchases by tourists visiting Santa Cruz would be taxed. Funds would be locally controlled and used for local services.  

Although this revenue would be collected by the County, funding could be used to help sustain essential services delivered by providers like hospitals, health clinics, food banks, and other supportive services. On August 4, the Board adopted a resolution identifying the following priority uses for Measure E funds, focusing on preserving residents’ access to essential services:  

• Emergency and urgent health care 

• Mental health and substance use care 

• Food assistance 

• Housing stability  

• Essential community services 

• Coordinated local response   

Starting in 2027, the extended network of Santa Cruz County providers is expected to see annual losses of more than $200 million as federal and state policy and funding changes take effect. If approved, Measure E could generate approximately $27 million annually to help address this need.  

For more information, visit the County’s Elections Department Measure E Page.

Measure D: Expanding Protections for Coastal Resources

Measure D would update existing Santa Cruz County Code restricting onshore facilities that support offshore oil and gas activities and protect against their potential negative impacts.

Placed on the ballot by the Board of Supervisors, Measure D would change Santa Cruz County Code Chapter 16.55 by:  

• Expanding protections to cover onshore facilities associated with deep sea-mining. 
  
  
• Augmenting the County’s stated goals of protecting coastal resources, water, agricultural lands, tourism, air quality, recreation, biodiversity, and quality of life.
    
• Providing more detailed findings about how onshore support facilities for oil, gas, and deep-sea mining could substantially adversely affect coastal resources.  
  
  
• Clarifying definitions and simplifying voter approval requirements.

For more information, visit the County’s Elections Department Measure D Page.  

Measure G: Raising the Hotel Tax Rate in Scotts Valley

Measure G would increase the City of Scotts Valley Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT), commonly known as the hotel tax, by 2% from 11% to 13%.  
 
Placed on the ballot by the Scotts Valley City Council, the TOT is a tax paid by hotel and motel guests who spend fewer than 30 consecutive days in a hotel or motel in the City. 

The revenue generated by Measure G will be deposited into the City’s General Fund and pay for City operations and programs, including police services, recreation, park maintenance, repairs of streets and roads, and other essential City services.  

For more information, visit the County’s Elections Department Measure G Page. 

Measure N: Funding Facility Improvements at Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School 

Measure N would authorize the Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District to approve the sale of up to $321 million in general obligation bonds to fund improvements to the school’s facilities.  

Placed on the ballot by the Board of Trustees of the Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School, the bonds would generate approximately $23 million annually to repair and upgrade aging school facilities and provide safe, secure, modern classrooms and related labs and technology. Read the full text of the measure for complete information.  

For more information, visit the County’s Elections Department Measure N Page.

Elections are an important way of communicating the community’s preferences and priorities to those of us in local government who strive to serve you, but the results are only representative of those who chose to participate.

In the last primary election on June 2, 2026, only 53% of all registered voters in District Five (and only one third of voters under the age of 35) cast a ballot. The challenges we face heading into 2027 are significant, and how Santa Cruz County residents vote on local issues will have an immediate and lasting impact on our community, so I hope you will take your democratic right seriously and make your voice heard on November 3rd!  

• October 5 – Mail ballots sent to residents.
  • If you lost your ballot, never received it, or made a mistake and need a new one, you can request a replacement ballot online, go to an in-person voting location.
• October 19 – Last day to register to vote in November 2026 election and have ballots and voting materials mailed to you.  
  • If you missed the deadline to register, you can still register and vote at the county elections office or a designated location.   
• November 3 – Election day! Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.  
  • Any voter can go to any voting location. To find the closest voting location near you, visit the County’s vote center & drop box locations. 
  • Do not mail your ballot on November 3rd; use an official drop box or vote in person. Mailed ballots are only considered valid if they are postmarked on or before Election Day and received no later than seven days after Election Day. Even if it arrives within seven days, mail dropped off in Santa Cruz County on November 3rd will not be postmarked until the following day.  
  • Vote the naked ballot! A sure way to ensure your vote is counted is to fill out your ballot at home, then turn it in without the return envelope at an in-person voting location. This avoids the question of whether your ballot will arrive in time and gives you an opportunity to immediately resolve any issues that could require you to cure your ballot later, such as signature mismatches. (It also reduces the administrative burden on election teams, who had to open nearly 100,000 envelopes in the primary!) 

For more information on voting in Santa Cruz County, check out the County’s Elections Department page or watch County Clerk, Tricia Webber, present on everything being done to make sure your voice counts. 

Celebrate Democracy With These Events! 

Family Democracy Day - October 17

Not everyone comes from a background that included the culture of voting – but it’s never too late to learn. To help families feel more confident voting, the Santa Cruz County Clerk/Elections office is hosting a Family Democracy Day on October 17 from 12 to 3:30 P.M. at the Felton Public Library. This free, family-friendly event gives people of all ages a chance to learn about elections and civic participation in a fun, interactive, and accessible way. 

Books and Ballots - October 15

The Santa Cruz County Elections Office is bringing voting to our local library system. In District 5 you will be able to register to vote, drop off your ballot, get a replacement ballot, vote an accessible ballot, and more at the Boulder Creek Branch Library on October 15.