Santa Clara County Library District Measure A (2013)

Summary by Brendan Lin

Measure A is an all-mail ballot that seeks to extend taxpayer-approved funding for the libraries of
the Santa Clara County Library District. t re!uires a t"o-thirds vote to pass. #allots "ere
mailed out on $uly %&' %()* to library district residents' and must be returned by August %+'
%()*.
,his measure D-.S /-, raise taxes. f passed' Measure A "ould simply continue the current
level of funding' "hich accounts for )01 of the total library budget. Single family homes "ill
continue to pay 2**.33 annually through their property tax. ,his funding has been in place for
t"enty years' and this measure seeks to extend it for an additional t"enty years. t is due to
expire on $une *(' %()4.
Measure A directly helps libraries to maintain library hours and services' keep !ualified
librarians' provide an a"ard-"inning bookmobile program' maintain children5s reading
programs' and buy needed books and up-to-date research materials. t "ill directly affect every
single library in the Santa Clara County Library District' "hich includes + community libraries' )
branch library' % bookmobiles' and an online library. -ver )(('((( school-age children utili6e
library programs each year. f Measure A does not pass' libraries may be forced to close for an
additional day to day-and-a-half each "eek.
Measure A is sub7ect to strict fiscal accountability' including annual independent financial audits
and public revie" of expenditures to monitor spending to guarantee that all funds are being spent
as promised. All Measure A revenues that are raised "ithin a city are returned for the benefit and
operation of the local library in that city.
,he official Measure A ballot language is as follo"s8
Continuing the same tax rates currently levied by Santa Clara County Library District Joint
Powers Authority Communities Facilities District Number !!"#$% to &rovide u&#to#date boo'
collections(research materials% children)s reading &rograms% boo'mobile services *or seniors(
the disabled% library hours% +uali*ied librarians and other general library services(materials,
shall Library Joint Powers Authority o* Santa Clara County Community Facilities District
Number !$-#$ levy a s&ecial tax, and shall an annual a&&ro&riations limit be established at
./,!!,!!!, with all money *rom each community used *or its local library and no money *or
Sacramento, all as s&eci*ied in 0esolution No1 $-#!23
A partial list of endorsements is included on the second page.
Partial List of Endorsers of the Santa Clara County Library District Measure A (2013)
Cam&bell City Council
Cu&ertino City Council
4ilroy City Council
Los Altos City Council
Los Altos 5ills City Council
6il&itas City Council
6onte Sereno City Council
6organ 5ill City Council
Saratoga City Council
League o* 7omen 8oters o* South 7est Santa Clara County
Cu&ertino Chamber o* Commerce
4ilroy Chamber o* Commerce
Los Altos Chamber o* Commerce
6organ 5ill Chamber o* Commerce
4ilbert 7ong, Vice Mayor of Cupertino, Library Board Chair
Don 4age, Mayor of Gilroy, Former Library Board Member
Steve 9ate, Mayor Morgan Hill, Library Board Member
6i'e 7asserman, Santa Clara County Supervisor, Library Board Member
Dolly Sandoval, Former Mayor Cupertino, ducator
Dion :racco, Gilroy City Council, Library Board Member
Adrienne 4rey, !rustee, "est Valley#Mission Community College $istrict
;rrin 6ahoney, Mayor, City of Cupertino
<mily Lo, Vice Mayor, City of Saratoga
Dan Furtado, Former Mayor of Campbell, Former Library Board Chair
Chuc' 0eed, Mayor of San %ose
Nancy 5owe, County Librarian
Dere' 7ol*gram, $eputy County Librarian and California Library &ssociation 'resident
Carol Frost, $eputy County Librarian
Susan Fuller, (etired County Librarian
Cities Association o* Santa Clara County
Dr1 6ichael Chang, Vice 'resident, Santa Clara County Board of ducation
Carl 4uardino, 'resident and C), Silicon Valley Leadership Group
<lisabeth Achen, High School nglish !eacher
Sally Ashton, Santa Clara County 'oet Laureate, *+,,#*+,-
Cheryl 5outs, Community Librarian, Campbell Library
=alen 4allagher, !rustee, Campbell .nion High School $istrict
Sandy 0emmers, 'resident, Friends of the Campbell Library
Jane P1 =ennedy, Former Mayor, Campbell
6adalyn Perrine, Library Commission