Mendocino County library sales tax measure on Nov. ballot

Mendocino County voters are being asked to approve a sales tax increase in November that would restore services to their five public libraries.

"Without new revenue, we will continue to see the further deterioration of library services," said Mendocino County Supervisor John McCowen.

County library hours have been reduced to three days a week and children's programs have been cut in response to reduced property tax revenues and state funding cuts.

Measure A, a mail-in ballot initiative, would increase the countywide sales tax by one-eighth of a percent, raising an estimated $1.3 million a year for the libraries. That would allow five-day-a-week operations, according to the measure's proponents.

The measure would create a sales tax rate of 7.875 percent in the cities of Ukiah, Willits, Fort Bragg and Point Arena, up from 7.75 percent; and to 7.375 in the unincorporated county, up from 7.25 percent.

"I really see this as a very modest investment in the future of our community," McCowen said.

Mendocino County libraries currently are funded through a percentage — roughly .01 percent — of local property tax revenues as well as state funds and donors, who give both time and money.

But overall funding has been slipping.

The library system this year anticipates $1.2 million from county property taxes, a one-year decrease of $100,000, said County Librarian Melanie Lightbody. The state's contributions to the libraries has been declining and could fall to zero this year, she said. Last year, the state allocated $100,000. In 2006, it was $500,000.

Meanwhile, the cost of running five libraries and a bookmobile have climbed, she said. Repairs and utilities cost $475,000 a year and employee costs last year were roughly $1 million, she said.

The library has 10 full-time employees and three part-time employees, Lightbody said. It also has more than 200 volunteers who devoted a total of 19,000 hours to keep things running, she said.

"We absolutely would have to close without our volunteers," Lightbody said.

Library advocates also purchase supplies and books for the library, which has a book acquisition budget of just $14,000. The supporters raise and donate from $30,000 to $40,000 a year to the library, Lightbody said.

Measure A has been non-controversial and there has been no organized opposition to the sales tax hike. But it does have its skeptics.

"Personally, I'm not in favor of it," said Dick Selzer, a Ukiah-area real estate broker, member of the Mendocino County Employers Council and library card holder.

He believes that library customers should help pay for libraries, possibly through a fee on library cards or on materials checkouts. Library officials also could do more to increase donations, he said, noting that he was not contacted last year about renewing his donated subscription to the Wall Street Journal.

Measure A organizer Steve Antler opposes fees on library users. He said the purpose of public libraries is to provide access to information to everyone, and especially people who don't have the money to buy books or computers.

"The need for library services, including high-speed Internet access, is growing now in hard economic times," he said.

Library use has increased during the recession, Lightbody said.