This opinion was contributed by Hollister resident, Elia Salinas. The opinions expressed do not necessarily represent BenitoLink or other affiliated contributors. Lea este artículo en español aqui.
San Benito County voters have a simple choice with Measure D: Vote No: Continue collecting virtually no cannabis cultivation tax revenue under a failed system. Or, Vote Yes: Modernize the tax structure so the industry actually operates here and contributes to the county’s finances.
The key point voters should understand is this: Measure D taxes cannabis operators — not homeowners, not working families, not local consumers at the grocery store.
The current tax structure has been a disaster. San Benito County imposed one of the highest cannabis cultivation tax rates in California charging growers between $3 and $17 per square foot. The result? Six years after legal cultivation was approved, not a single legal cannabis farm was operating in the county. That means no meaningful revenue, no competitive industry, and continued pressure on our local budgets.
Measure D finally fixes the math.
Instead of taxing growers per square foot, a model designed more for indoor warehouses than outdoor agriculture Measure D would allow the county to move to a per-acre structure ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 per acre, with the Board of Supervisors setting the final rate. (Hopefully the BOS doesn’t start off greedy!) Growers and county officials alike say the old system simply was not economically viable for outdoor farming.
San Benito County residents are constantly told there is not enough money for roads, public safety, code enforcement, parks, infrastructure and county services. Yet under the current cannabis tax policy, the county has essentially been leaving money on the table while neighboring counties adapt to economic reality.
Even supporters of stricter regulation should recognize the obvious: a tax rate so high that when no one can afford to operate legally, the county collects zero revenue while the illegal market continues to thrive. A lower, workable tax that actually attracts licensed growers creates jobs, agricultural investment, permit fees and ongoing tax income.
County officials estimate the revised structure could potentially generate millions in revenue depending on acreage and final rates.
Measure D is not about “giving away” tax breaks. It is about creating a functioning system instead of clinging to a failed one.
If San Benito County wants cannabis operators to help fund county government rather than placing more pressure on residents and existing taxpayers, then the answer is clear:
Vote YES on Measure D.
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