Measure Y, Sonoma County library tax, passes

Two years after a similar proposal failed by a narrow margin, a measure to increase funding for the county's library system by boosting sales taxes led early Wednesday.

With 459 of the county's 459 precincts reporting, 71 percent of voters favored Measure Y and 29 percent opposed it. The measure requires approval by two-thirds of voters.

The first measure, in 2014, fell 3.3 percent short of the two-thirds requirement.

Measure Y would increase sales taxes by an eighth of a cent across the county, pumping $10 million annually into the library's $17 million budget. The infusion of money would allow the library system to reopen branches on Mondays and expand services, said Sonoma County Library Director Brett Lear.

“Two years ago when the early results came in, we were around 62 percent, and things didn't change most of the night,” Lear said late Tuesday. “So to see almost 70 percent at this point, I'm pretty thrilled.”

Rincon Valley resident George Benton, 66, voted for both measures.

“I have used the library all my life,” he said. “It is a resource that is important for people who don't have access to the services that the library provides any other way.”

Dan Mullen, campaign consultant for the Yes on Y campaign, said supporters spent about $153,000 - most of it going toward mailers.

“We took a longer approach toward communicating with the public this time,” Mullen said. “The library figured out what the community wanted. ... When the campaign came on board, the public was ready to support us.”

Central Library, in downtown Santa Rosa, is the only library of the system's 17 branches still open on Sundays. Waiting lists for some books are six months long. Buildings have maintenance upgrades that have been deferred for 20 to 30 years, which means about $8 million in deferred maintenance, Lear said. The property tax that funds the county's library system has not changed since 1978.

“It's important that it passes so we have healthy, sustainable libraries,” Lear said.