April 5, 2005

Special election effort to help fund county libraries
lauded by many; criticized by others

Look for your Measure A & B ballot, mailed April 4

By Julie Davis Berry
Executive Editor

Keep an eye on your mailbox because voters will be receiving ballots any day now for a special election to fund county libraries.

The reason the Santa Clara County Library District is holding the special election is that the Measure A Library Bond measure passed in 1995 will expire in June. And proponents of the new measure insist that if the district loses those dollars, which account for 20 percent of county library funding, it will significantly impact library hours and services starting this summer, including the Campbell Library.

The Campbell Campaign Committee which held a volunteer orientation March 8 at the Stone Griffin Art Gallery in downtown Campbell aims to inform library supporters on the special election ballot on Measures A & B.

The Santa Clara County Library District serves nine cities and unincorporated parts of the county including Campbell, Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Milpitas, Monte Sereno, Morgan Hill and Saratoga.

Voters turned down a tax proposal in last November’s election and proponents of the new measure believe that running a separate election will be more successful because voters will not be overwhelmed with other measures, parcel taxes and candidates. They only need to focus on this one issue.

The district sent out an informational mailer in March aimed at voters who voted in at least the last three elections. In addition, the district has paid for extensive polling, spending money that some say would have been better spent staying in the district’s coffers.

There is an outcry from anti-tax activists who complain that the mailer broke the law because public agencies are prohibited from spending tax dollars on ballot-measure campaigns. However, Santa Clara County Council Ann Ravel’s office approved the mailer.

Opponents complain that the special election ballot may fall by the wayside and only those who wish to vote for the measure will vote while others will toss the ballot thinking it is simply a marketing piece. There is also concern that, unlike in regular elections, there will not be a forum for opposing viewpoints.

Proponents believe, however, that due to the drastic effect the loss of revenue will have on their local library it is essential to call a special election regarding Measures A & B. This is a very hot issue for many residents.

“The Campbell library,” according to former Campbell City Council candidate Evan Low, “is a vital part of our community, serving people of all ages and providing them with access to books, magazines, videos and other materials for education, learning and enjoyment. Each week, hundreds of residents use the library to borrow reading material, access the Internet, attend story times with their children and participate in tutoring and literacy programs.

“Sadly, due to budget cuts, the Campbell Library is closed on Sundays and Mondays. Because of these closures and other reductions in service, many people who rely on our library no longer have consistent access to quality materials.

Without these funds, the Campbell Library will be forced to close an additional day each week and will not be able to purchase new books or materials,” Low said.

Low is a member of the Campbell Campaign Committee (campbell@savesccl.org), which held a volunteer orientation March 8 at the Stone Griffin Art Gallery in downtown Campbell to “inform library supporters that Measure A is the only way to keep the library from losing critical funding and Measure B will help us restore some funding that we have lost already.”

The ballot is offering two alternatives to voters. If you vote for Measure A you will restore over 20 percent of the district’s funding, over $5 million a year that was covered by the previous 1995 measure. This translates to $33.66 per year per household for the next 10 years.

A vote for Measure B will add an additional $12 a year and would raise an additional $1.9 million a year for the district for the next 10 years. Proponents say a vote for Measure B will keep libraries open more days and avoid staff cuts.

Look for your ballot the second week of April. After marking your ballot mail it back or return it to the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters no later than May 3.