Santa Cruz Libraries Community Facilities District, California, Bond Issue and Parcel Tax, Measure S (June 2016)
| Measure S: Santa Cruz Libraries Community Facilities District Bond Issue and Parcel Tax |
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| The basics |
| Election date: |
| June 7, 2016 |
| Status: |
 ApprovedMajority required: 66.67% |
| Topic: |
| California parcel tax Expires in: 30 years |
| Related articles |
| California parcel tax on the ballot June 7, 2016 ballot measures in California Santa Cruz County, California ballot measures District bonds on the ballot |
| See also |
A bond issue and parcel tax measure was on the ballot for voters in the Community Facilities District No. 2016-1 of the Libraries Facilities Financing Authority in Santa Cruz County, California, on June 7, 2016. It was approved.
| A yes vote was a vote in favor of authorizing the community facilities district formed in February 2016 to increase its debt by $67 million through issuing general obligation bonds in that amount and impose for 30 years an annual parcel tax of up to $49.50 per residential unit and $86 per commerical, agricultural, and recreational parcel. |
| A no vote was a vote against the $67 million bond issue and the proposed parcel tax. |
The residential parcel tax—a kind of property tax based on units of property rather than assessed value—was designed to apply the $49.50 per unit rate to both single-unit and multi-unit parcels. For example, Measure S was designed to charge $148.50 for parcels with three separate residential units. Owners of non-residential parcels would be charged $86 per parcel per year. Officials of the Santa Cruz Libraries Facilities Financing Authority estimated that the tax would bring in about $4.15 million per year—about 32 percent of the library system's $13 million annual budget. Measure S was designed to divide up the tax revenue among different library districts in the following way:[1]
- 4.84 percent for Scotts Valley
- 12.9 percent for Capitola
- 40.3 percent for Santa Cruz
- 41.9 percent to the whole Santa Cruz County
A two-thirds (66.67%) vote was required for the approval of Measure S.
Election results
| Santa Cruz Libraries Community Facilities District, Measure S | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Yes | 57,788 | 70.38% | ||
| No | 24,321 | 29.62% | ||
- Election results from Santa Cruz County Elections Office
Background
Through a resolution approved on February 11, 2016, the Santa Cruz Libraries Facilities Financing Authority created the Community Facilities District (CFD) in which Measure S was decided. The authority put Measure S on the ballot before voters in the newly created CFD through a resolution approved on the same day. Community Facilities Districts are taxing districts used by cities, counties, and other government entities with financing authority to propose taxes and bond issues in a specific area and for a specific purpose.[2]
Text of measure
Ballot question
The following question appeared on the ballot:[2]
| “ |
To modernize, upgrade and repair local libraries in Santa Cruz, Aptos, Live Oaks, Scotts Valley, Boulder Creek, Capitola, Felton and La Selva Beach -- replace failing roofs, oudated bathrooms, electrical systems/structurally damaged facilities; support growing use by children, seniors, veterans and others; expand access to modern technology; and construct/ expand facilities where necessary; shall Santa Cruz Libraries Facilities Financing Authority issue $67,000,000 in bonds for Santa Cruz Libraries Facilities Financing Authority Community Facilities District No. 2016-1; levy a special tax annually on parcels within the Community Facilities District; establish an initial appropriations limit; and assure mandatory accountability? [3] |
” |
Impartial analysis
The following impartial analysis of the measure was prepared by the office of the Santa Cruz County Counsel:
| “ |
If approved by at least two-thirds of those voting on the measure, this measure will authorize the Santa Cruz Libraries Facilities Financing Authority ("the Authority") to issue bonds in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding $67,000,000. The measure will also authorize a special tax on real property. The Authority has formed the "Santa Cruz Libraries Facilities Financing Authority Community Facilities District No. 2016-1" ("the CFD") pursuant to State law for the purpose of financing or funding library facilities, as described in the ballot question and the Resolutions printed in this ballot pamphlet. All developed parcels of real property within the boundaries of the CFD will be taxed to pay the interest and principal on the bonds which are issued for those purposes. The annual special tax will be set at a maximum flat rate of $49.50 for single family residential properties or per unit of a multi-family residential property, and $86.00 for commercial, agricultural or recreational parcels. An owner may appeal the amount or application of the special tax if the owner claims it is incorrect, by filing a written appeal with the District Administrator. The special tax will be levied for a period not to exceed thirty years commencing with fiscal year 2016-17. It will be collected in the same manner as ad valorem property taxes, unless the CFD collects it in a different manner as necessary to meet its financial obligations. The bonds will constitute an indebtedness of the CFD. The interest paid on the bonds will be limited by State law, and their terms will be limited to thirty years from issuance. Accountability requirements carried out under State law are to ensure that the tax proceeds are applied only to the purposes identified by the ballot measure. The measure also establishes a legal appropriations limit which authorizes the CFD to spend the monies raised. This measure was placed on the ballot by the Board of the Santa Cruz Libraries Facilities Financing Authority. A "yes" vote on Measure S is a vote to authorize the bonds to be issued and to levy special taxes on real property. A "no" vote on Measure S is a vote against issuing the proposed bonds and levying the special tax.[3] |
” |
| —Santa Cruz County Counsel[2] | ||
Full text
The full text of the measure is available here.
Support
Supporters
An Our Libraries Our Future campaign was formed to urge voters to approve Measure S.[4]
Our Libraries Our Future provided a list of endorsements that included:[4]
- Congresswomen Anna Eshoo (D-18)
- Congressman Sam Farr, (D-20)
- State Sen. Bill Monning (D-17)
- Assemblyman Mark Stone (D-29)
- Assemblyman Luis Alejo (D-30)
- Four Santa Cruz County supervisors
- The Santa Cruz County sheriff and district attorney
- Six members of the Santa Cruz County Board of Education
- Council members from various cities and members of various school district boards of trustees
- Multiple organizations and groups
A full list of endorsements is available here.
Arguments in favor
The Our Libraries Our Future campaign website featured the following statement in favor of Measure S:[4]
| “ |
Serving residents of all ages – young children and their families, teens, veterans, seniors and community groups – use of our library system continues to expand through its ten branches, bookmobile and online resources But our library facilities themselves are seriously outdated and in need of repair to meet 21st-century standards. They need critical upgrades and modernization to support increasing library usage and ensure that our libraries are equipped for the 21st Century.[3] |
” |
| —Our Libraries Our Future[4] | ||
Opposition
If you know of arguments or endorsements that should be posted here, please email the Ballot Measures Project Director.
Path to the ballot
This measure was put on the ballot through a vote of the governing officials of Santa Cruz Libraries Facilities Financing Authority, California.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Santa Cruz Libraries Facilities Financing Authority parcel tax and bond issue Measure S. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
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External links
Support
Footnotes
- ↑ Santa Cruz Sentinel, "Library tax measure before voters June 7," April 25, 2016
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Santa Cruz County Elections Office, "Local measures on June 7, 2016 Ballot," accessed April 28, 2016
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Our Libraries Our Future, "Home," accessed April 29, 2016
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