Santa Cruz County Local News: Elections & Politics

Voters in San Lorenzo Valley Water District in November will decide whether to reverse a recent water bill hike and cap some future charges.

Last November, the Scotts Valley Fire Protection District asked Scotts Valley voters to approve a bond to build a new southside fire station and provide a better defense against wildfires. The measure lost by just 12 votes, leaving the district to continue struggling with an outdated Erba Lane station.

Jessica Carrasco is challenging incumbent Adam Scow for the Trustee Area 6 seat on the Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees. in the Nov. 5 election.

Just one-fourth of open school board seats in Santa Cruz County will be on voters’ ballots in the Nov. 5 election. Twenty of 32 seats will be awarded to the sole candidate, and four more will be appointed or go vacant. That’s lower electoral participation than the last school board elections in November 2022, when about 30% of seats had multiple candidates and were decided by voters.

How does the 5th largest economy in the world … work?

Capitola voters will decide whether to raise the city’s sales tax to 9.25% from 9% in the Nov. 5 election.

Santa Cruz city voters in November will decide whether to tax the distributors of soda and other sugar-sweetened beverages to discourage consumption and potentially raise $1.3 million annually for city services.