Sacramento voters will consider a tax to support libraries. Here’s why the funds are needed
Sacramento library boosters are pushing to combine and extend two city parcel taxes, in a bid to protect library revenues and spare officials the process of seeking renewal every five or six years.
The funds, library officials say, will ensure that city branches can stay open five days a week and continue key services.
“Our libraries are safe spaces for kids. They’re safe spaces for seniors. They’re safe spaces for our unhoused population,” said Mayor Pro Tem Karina Talamantes. “Public libraries contribute so much to society.”
Measure E would combine and extend two existing taxes that fund the libraries. The first — passed in 2004 and extended in 2016 — was set at $26.60 per year for single-family residences, with annual increases capped at 3%. The second, passed in 2014, added a $12 per-parcel tax. The taxes were approved for periods of 10 and 12 years, respectively.
Katie Hanzlik, campaign manager for Measure E, said the measure’s proponents believe that voting on the renewals over and over again has been confusing for voters — and labor-intensive for the libraries.
“For something as important as the library to have to run a campaign every four to six years,” Hanzlik said, “is a lot of work and money.”
The new measure would extend the parcel taxes indefinitely. It would not raise the rates, which already rise incrementally in line with inflation. Talamantes said the campaign considered the cost-of-living increases residents have weathered over the past few years and decided not to push for any additional increase.
Sacramento Public Library Director and CEO Peter Coyl said the system works to be frugal. His staff apply for a lot of grants.
“We do try to be very good stewards of the taxpayer money,” Coyl said.
The taxes provide about 16% of the libraries’ annual revenues. If those dollars went away, Coyl said, city branches would be forced to cut jobs and reduce their days. The library system has 28 branches and employs around 400 full-time equivalents.
“It would be catastrophic,” said Patricia Sayer-Handley, president of the Friends of the North Sacramento Hagginwood Library. “We have people who use it as a cooling center — and a warming center in the winters. We have these critical programs for low-income students.”
“The library can be a real center of the community,” she said. “We’re kind of running on the minimum as it is right now.”
Initial estimates suggest city libraries may only be able to open three days a week, down from five, without the parcel taxes. And while the dollars from the parcel taxes can only be used for city libraries, a large reduction could impact systemwide services that also benefit county residents, like the Bookmobile and youth programs.
“It’s kind of like pulling a thread,” Coyl said. “Even though it is only a city of Sacramento ballot measure that only residents of the city can vote on, it does impact the entire library system.”
The libraries offer after-school programs for teens. They provide internet to people who don’t have it at home. Seniors volunteer there. For workers who are away from their office or who work remotely, the local library is usually one of the only places available to work without any expectation of spending money. And the system has a “library of things,” which lends high-dollar-amount items that people may only need once, like construction and gardening tools, kitchen appliances, microscopes and GoPros.
The measure would set the new tax rate at $54.50 for single-family residences. Multi-family residential buildings would pay per-unit rates at one of three tiers, determined by the number of units in the property. The tax rate for commercial properties would be set per-acre, with lower amounts after the first five acres. Land used for agriculture, utilities and public agencies would be exempt.
Increases would be tied to inflation, and capped at 3% per year. The measure includes a rebate program for households that make 80% or less than the median income for the area.
There were no formal rebuttals filed for Measure E. Anita Scuri, president of Friends of the Sacramento Public Library, the system’s fundraising partner, said she tabled two events in support of the measure, and had yet to hear any negative comments.
“I’m not aware of any opposition,” she said. “People love their libraries.”
Their measure requires approval from two-thirds of voters, and would take effect July 1.
This story was originally published September 16, 2024 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Sacramento voters will consider a tax to support libraries. Here’s why the funds are needed."
