51,404 / 72.0% Yes votes ...... 19,950 / 28.0% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Meaning of Voting Yes/No

A YES vote on this measure means:

A "yes" vote is a vote to approve a special tax on parcels within Community Facilities District No. 2005-1 of the Santa Clara County library District Joint Powers Authority.

A NO vote on this measure means:

A "no" vote is a vote not to approve the special tax.

California law permits a local agency to establish a community facilities district to finance certain public capital facilities and services by levying a special tax on parcels of land within the district if the tax is approved by two-thirds of the voters voting in an election.

The Board of Directors of the Santa Clara County Library District Joint Powers Authority proposes a special tax of $33.66 per year for single family residences and corresponding amounts for other properties within Community Facilities District No. 2005-1 for 10 years. This special tax would replace another special tax in the same amount that will expire. A vote for the special tax is also a vote to increase the appropriations limit by $5,980,000 per year.

The purpose of the special tax is to continue existing library hours and services in local libraries serving Campbell, Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Milpitas, Monte Sereno, Morgan Hill, Saratoga and unincorporated areas including Alum Rock.

A "yes" vote is a vote to approve a special tax on parcels within Community Facilities District No. 2005-1 of the Santa Clara County library District Joint Powers Authority.

A 'no" vote is a vote not to approve the special tax.

ANN MILLER RAVEL
County Counsel

By: Lisa Herrick
Deputy County Counsel

N.B.,The May 3, 2005 election is an all mail ballot election. All registered voters who live in areas served by the County Library System will be mailed a ballot. Ballots must be returned to the Registrar of Voters by 8 p.m. on May 3.

Santa Clara County Library

Support Our Libraries

Libertarian Party of Santa Clara County

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Measures A and B have been placed on the ballot to maintain basic library services in our community. Measure A, first approved by voters in 1994 is set expire in June. By law, Measure A needs to be re-authorized by voters. Measure A does not increase your existing tax rate. It continues a $33.66 assessment to fund local libraries.

Measure B increases the library assessment by just $1 per month to restore library hours and services that have recently been cut. Measure B will only take effect if Measure A is also approved.

Please vote Yes on Measures A and B.

If Measure A expires, our libraries will lose over 20% of their funding - over $5 million a year. The loss of this essential local funding will mean library hours will be severely reduced, book and material purchases will be cut and library programs that support student learning will be curtailed.

Libraries are now closed on Mondays and most are closed on Sundays. Without re-authorization of Measure A, our libraries will close additional days each week and even fewer books and up-to-date research materials will be available. Summer reading and story time programs that teach many young children to read will be cut.

Measures A and B are structured so that every penny generated in a community stays in that community to benefit that local library. For example, Saratoga funds will support the Saratoga Library. Morgan Hill funds will support the Morgan Hill Library. Los Altos funds will support the Los Altos Library, etc. This same local funding guarantee applies to Alum Rock, Campbell, Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Altos Hills, Milpitas and Monte Sereno.

Mandatory annual audits will ensure that all funds stay local for the benefit of your local library.

Remember, Measure A does not increase your tax rate.

Please vote Yes on A and B

Susan A. Fuller
Retired Santa Clara County Librarian/PlaneTree Health Library, Board Chair

Colleen Wilcox
County Superintendent of Schools/Children's Discovery Museum, Board of Directors

Sally E. Pyle
President, Santa Clara County League of Women Voters

Martha J. Kanter
Chancellor, Foothill-De Anza Community College District

Leo E. Chavez
Executive Vice President, Community Foundation Silicon Valley

Sometimes when a taxing district wants more money and is pressured to perform, they do.

As we predicted in our ballot argument, the Joint Powers Authority updated their agenda and minutes on their website for the past and upcoming meetings. They even clarified when and where the meetings are held.

The JPA can continue to show the public at-large how they operate and where their money is spent by putting the remaining past agendas and minutes and current operating budget online.

Measure A proponents state it "does not increase your existing tax rate." However, they do not mention the increased assessments for commercial and rental properties, the owners of which will bear the brunt of this tax. The owners of these properties are the same ones who create jobs and provide housing at affordable prices for the rest of us.

Go to http://VoteNoOnA.us for more information.

VOTE NO on MEASURE A for a tax rate cut.

Allan Hacker
Chair, Libertarian Party of Santa Clara County

Dennis M. Umphress
President, Silicon Valley Taxpayers' Association

Jack E. Davis
President, S.C.V. Republican Assembly

Mark W. A. Hinkle
Past Chair, Libertarian Party of California

Not only is this Community Facilities District property tax back after being decisively defeated in March 2004. It's back with a vengeance! This time they increased the maximum assessments per unit or acre, and extended the time period to 10 years (from 7 years).

They've also gone ahead and "masked" the total amount on particular land-use classes by quoting a percentage of acreage amount instead of the full price. [See Resolution 05-01.] Could this be the advice they received from the public relations firm they hired to help them pass this new measure?

66% of the revenues spent on the library go to salaries and benefits. [Santa Clara County Joint Powers Authority (JPA, Board Minutes, April 2004] That leaves only $1 out of every $3 to spend for books, videos, and facilities-the tangible items that make a library worth visiting.

At the same meeting, a librarian suggested that the board NOT purchase additional self-checkout machines, in order to "keep layoffs to a minimum."

Major retail firms are moving towards greater automation to reduce costs; what prevents our libraries from doing the same thing? Wouldn't this allow libarary staff to better focus on helping patrons find and use resources rather than perform menial check-out tasks?

Don't be fooled. This measure is less about books and keeping the libraries open, and more about salaries and benefits for the employees.

In a time when Silicon Valley has suffered the worst downturn in its history, we do not need to burden any tepid recovery with additional taxes that don't return their investment with increased service.

Demand accountability

Demand better service.

Demand an efficient library system.

Don't give the JPA a "pay raise."

Note NO on Measure A.

See http://www.VoteNoOnA.us for more information.

Allan Hacker
Chair, Libertarian Party of Santa Clara County

Dennis M. Umphress
President, Silicon Valley Taxpayers' Association

Jack E. Davis
President, S.C.V. Republican Assembly

Mark W. A. Hinkle
Past Chair, Libertarian Party of California

We strongly disagree with the opponents' arguments. Measure A is not a "pay raise". In fact, Measure A does not increase your taxes. It simply continues an existing assessment for libraries that is set to expire in June.

If you have any doubts about Measure A, please consider what will happen if Measure A does not pass:

FACT: In addition to the nearly one million dollars a year in cuts that have already been made, local libraries would be able to buy even fewer books and up-to-date research materials.

FACT: Many school children and community college students who rely on our libraries would no longer have access to the educational and research materials they need.

FACT: In addition to Monday closings, most libraries would have to close at least one more day each week.

Each year more than 100,000 school age and pre-school children use the libraries. With local schools facing severe budget cutbacks, libraries, which have always played an important educational role, are now even more important than ever. We cannot expect to improve the quality of public education without having a first class, modern public library system.

Mandatory annual audits will ensure that all funds stay local for the benefit of your local library.

Both Measures A and B are supported by a broad coalition of librarians, teachers, principals, PTAs, business leaders, civic groups, senior citizens and others.

For more information visit http://www.SupportOurLibraries.org

Please vote Yes on Measures A and B.

Cynthia Chang
Trustee, Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High School District; CPA

Shinku Sharma
Trustee, Saratoga Union School District

Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins
Executive Officer - South Bay AFL-CIO Labor Council

Roy Lave
Former Mayor, City of Los Altos

Melinda Cervantes