Thank you to the many residents and community members who have taken an active role in our local conversation to help shape the future of our Town. As part of this year’s budget process, we’ve engaged residents to identify the Town services, needs and priorities that the community values the most. We will continue to engage you and there will be future opportunities to participate in the town priority setting input. 

Here are the top community priorities identified to date:

• Maintaining wildfire prevention services, including vegetation and brush management and clearance programs to reduce the chance of a wildfire
• Maintaining 911 emergency response times and police patrols
• Preventing a County takeover of local zoning and planning services
• Repairing deteriorating storm drains to prevent system failure, flooding, water pollution, and sinkholes

 Town Budget Update: Concerns about the Town's Future Autonomy

Despite the Town’s best efforts, the Town faces ongoing structural deficit, with costs continuing to exceed revenues. Without new locally controlled revenue, nearly $1.2 million in cost reductions will be needed over the next two fiscal years to maintain the Town’s minimum reserve threshold. Without additional revenue, the Town risks depleting reserves or making reductions that would impact the level of services residents expect.

Portola Valley residents told us it is important to maintain the Town’s financial stability, local autonomy, emergency reserves, and self-reliance. Residents also prioritized preserving the Town’s independent status and local control over zoning decisions, noting that if the Town were to lose its incorporated status, zoning and land use decisions would be made by the County.

We look forward on keeping you updated on the latest updates of this important community conversation.

Join or watch an upcoming budget Meeting: Town Calendar.

Portola Valley Post

Browse current and past editions of the Town of Portola Valley's official community newsletter.