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San Anselmo Library parcel tax, Measure B (June 2010)
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A San Anselmo Library parcel tax, Measure B ballot proposition was on the June 8, 2010 ballot in for voters in San Anselmo in Marin County, where it was approved.[1]
The tax was a $49/parcel annually, effective for five years. It was estimated that $250,000 a year in additional revenue for the library would be generated by this tax.[2]
The San Anselmo library's budget was $541,000/year, about one-third less than it was several years ago.[3]
A two-thirds (66.67%) vote was required for approval.
Election results
| Measure B | ||||
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| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
 Yes | 3,201 | 75.87% | ||
| No | 1,018 | 24.13% | ||
- These final, certified results are from the Marin County elections office.
Support
According to supporters, approval of Measure B would allow the library to have a larger staff and be open for more hours a week.[4]
The editorial board of the Marin Independent Journal endorsed Measure B, saying, "Local support for our libraries is evidence of the value we place on literacy, culture, academic achievement and knowledge. They are unlimited open spaces for our minds and hearts...The public discussion about our libraries should not be about what hours and programs to cut, but how can we expand hours and enhance library programs and services."[5]
Voter's pamphlet
The official voter's pamphlet did not include an opposition statement or opposition arguments. Marin County Superior Court Judge James Ritchie ordered opposition statements removed when supporters of Measure B and the author of the opposing statements both asked to have the opposition statements removed.[6]
Text of measure
The question on the ballot:
| MEASURE B: In order to increase San Anselmo Library open hours, improve children’s services at the Library including hiring a special children’s librarian, and enhance general Library services, shall an ordinance be adopted approving a Special Library Services Tax of $49.00 per year per real estate parcel located in the Town of San Anselmo, for a period of five (5) years, to be used to augment the money from the Town of San Anselmo’s General Fund currently used to fund library services in San Anselmo?[7] |
Path to the ballot
Supporters of the library, organized into a group called "Fund Our Future Campaign," collected 1,656 signatures on petitions to force the election on the parcel tax issue. Signatures of 817 registered voters in the city, or 10% of the city's total registered voters, was required to qualify the measure for the ballot.[1]
See also
External links
- San Anselmo's Future, website advocating for the parcel tax
- Official text of Measure B
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Marin Independent Journal, "San Anselmo library supporters collect twice as many signatures for ballot measure as needed," February 11, 2010
- ↑ Marin Independent Journal, "San Anselmo joins San Rafael and county with library parcel tax measure," February 24, 2010
- ↑ Marin Independent Journal, "Marin voters to weigh $49 library parcel tax on June ballot," April 17, 2010
- ↑ Marin Independent Journal, "Volunteers pursue parcel tax to fund San Anselmo Library," January 7, 2010
- ↑ Marin Independent Journal, "Editorial: IJ endorses all three local library taxes," April 25, 2010
- ↑ Marin Independent Journal, "Judge orders removal of anti-tax statements on San Anselmo library vote," April 1, 2010
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
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