Measure C Ballot Language

Shall the ordinance imposing a “Library Special Tax” be extended which: (1) can only be used exclusively to fund a portion of operational costs of the Central and branch libraries; (2) exempts religious facilities, community service organizations and persons meeting certain income criteria; (3) limits annual increases based on the Consumer Price Index; (4) prevents imposition of Tax if certain General Fund commitments to the Library are not made; and (5) contains a fifteen-year limit?

YES            NO

Current Tax Rates
Currently, the annual tax rates are $26.31 for a single family detached or attached unit; $17.10 for an apartment unit; and $193.40 for non-residential parcels.

Future Funding Task Force Recommendations
The Task Force recommended that the existing Library Special Tax be continued to fund library services. The Task Force further recommended:

• one-time increases in the tax rate of $4.25 for single-family detached or attached units, $3.00 for each apartment unit, and $30.00 for each non-residential parcel.
• the City must appropriate 80% of the total amount necessary to fund the Library in order to collect the Library Special Tax.

The Library Commission endorsed these recommendations and the City Council approved them and placed the measure on the March 6, 2007 ballot.

Library Services
Library services include a Central Library, neighborhood branch libraries, children’s programs and a broad collection of materials. Other services and programs are as follows:

• Seven day service at Central, Hastings and La Pintoresca
• Specialized services for teens
• A digital library including e-books, audio e-books and music to download • One City, One Story
• ArtNight
• Public computer training classes
• Services for children and students including Live Homework Help and Learning Express
• Public Internet access and wireless Internet access at all libraries
• Online self-serve renewals and reserves
• Access to the catalog of California libraries
• Technology Learning Centers at Central, La Pintoresca and Villa Parke branch libraries

Library Usage (Annual)

• 1,713,928 Books Checked Out
• 1,226,762 Library Vistors
• 193,457 Card Holders
• 4,152 Children's Programs–108,841 Attendance
• 358,918 Reference Questions Answered
• 625 Adult Programs–13,412 Attendance
• 17,906 Volunteer Service Hours
• $989,327 Book Budget

For further information contact:
Library Administration 626-744-8033

Impartial Analysis of Measure C

This is a ballot measure to renew a municipal parcel tax to supplement a portion of the funds required to maintain the City's Library system. In special elections in 1993 and 1997, Pasadena voters approved separate measures to create an ordinance establishing and then extending a Library Special Tax. The purpose of the Tax is to supplement the City's annual General Fund expenditure to maintain the current level of services at the Central Library and nine branch libraries (i.e., Allendale, Hastings, Hill Avenue, Lamanda Park, La Pintoresca, Linda Vista, San Rafael, Santa Catalina, and Villa Parke). The current ordinance is set to expire on June 30, 2008, unless voters authorize an extension by a two-thirds majority. The proceeds of the Library Special Tax are used exclusively for funding a portion of the Library's maintenance and operational costs. The City's current annual budget for the lnformation Services Department (Library) is $11.4 million. The Library Special Tax provides $1.79 million of that amount, approximately 16%. Both the Library Special Tax and the City's General Fund allocation are adjusted annually based on the increase in the Consumer Price Index. Currently, the annual tax rates are: $26.31 for a single-family detached or attached unit; $17.10 for an apartment unit; and $1 93.40 for nonresidential parcels. Measure C maintains the current level of library services and authorizes a continuation of the existing features of the Library Special Tax, with minor changes. These modifications include a one-time increase to the Fiscal Year 2008 annual tax rate by $4.25 for a single-family detached or attached unit; $3.00 for an apartment unit; and $30.00 for each non-residential parcel. This Measure would extend the Tax to Fiscal Year 2023, a fifteen-year period. Both the Library Special Tax and the City's General Fund expenditure would continue to be indexed annually based on the Consumer Price Index. Exemptions to the Tax are maintained for religious facilities, community service organizations and persons meeting specific income, senior citizen or disability criteria. FISCAL IMPACT It is anticipated that the passage of Measure C will have an impact on the City's General Fund appropriations as it includes a requirement that the City allocate annually no less than 80% of the total budget appropriations for the lnformation Services Department (Library) from City resources. The Library Special Tax could not be imposed on Pasadena taxpayers if the City does not maintain this financial commitment to the Library.

MICHELE BEAL BAGNERIS
City Attorney

Background

At its March 9, 2005 meeting, the Pasadena Library Commission voted unanimously to request authorization from City Council to establish a task force to review the impact of the current library tax measure, which expires July 1, 2008, and develop recommendations on future funding options for the Library. Subsequently, at the May 16, 2005 City Council meeting, the City Council approved the establishment of the task force and further requested to be provided with a list of prospective candidates to be appointed

At their regular meeting on November 9, 2005, the Library Commission voted to appoint the attached list of individuals to the task force, reserving the right to add an additional name to the list if necessary. Members of the task force have been selected to reflect diverse community interests and constituencies, and the task force includes representatives from the legal, business and financial community. A member from the 1993 and 1997 task forces on Alternative Funding has been asked to serve on this task force to lend experience and expertise on the matter.
 

Purpose of the Task Force

The purpose of the task force is to study the impact and future of the Library Special Tax as well as alternative funding mechanisms for the Library that may be available, in light of current fiscal situations facing the city.

The goals of the study group will be to:

1. Examine the service impact of the special tax.

2. Gather citizen input on the level of satisfaction with current library services.

3. Review options for future library funding.

4. Present recommendations to the City Council on future funding for the Library.
    

Final Report

The final report of the Pasadena Public Library Future Funding Task Force was presented to the City Council on November 13, 2006. 

• Task Force Report (Part 1)

• Task Force Report (Part 2)