Sonoma County Library Sales Tax Increase, Measure M (November 2014)

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A Sonoma County Library Sales Tax Increase, Measure M ballot question was on the November 4, 2014 election ballot for voters in Sonoma County, California. It was defeated.

Had it been approved, Measure M would have authorized the county to impose an additional 0.125 percent sales tax for ten years. The tax would have been a special tax with the revenue reserved specifically to fund library operations, services, restoration and enhancement.

According to the county auditor, Measure M would have provided about $10,225,703 in additional library funding every year, which amounts to a 67 percent increase in the library's budget. Over the ten-year life of the tax increase, the Measure M tax would have brought in approximately $102.25 million to the library.

In 2013, the library received $15,271,523 in revenue, most of which was from property taxes.

A two-thirds (66.67%) vote was required for the approval of Measure M.

Election results

Measure M
Result		Votes	Percentage
d No		51,406	36.7%
Yes		88,534	63.3%

Election results from Sonoma County Elections Office

Text of measure

Ballot question

The question on the ballot:

“

Library Improvement Act: Shall the Sonoma County Library Improvement Act be implemented by imposing a one-eighth cent (0.125%) sales tax for ten years to restore and enhance library hours and services to benefit children, seniors and all residents of the County; with an annual audit to be conducted to ensure that funds are spent as mandated by the voters; and an increase in spending limit to allow use of the revenue?

”

Impartial analysis

The following impartial analysis was prepared for Measure M:

“	The County of Sonoma has proposed a retail transactions and use tax (sales tax) of one-eighth of one cent (0.125%) to fund the Sonoma County Library, a joint powers agency in which the County and all Sonoma County cities are members. The tax would be levied for no more than ten years. State law requires voter approval before imposition of a sales tax. Proceeds from the tax would be placed in a special fund and could only be used for the purposes set out in Expenditure Plan attached to the measure. Those purposes include preserving and enhancing existing libraries; restoring and enhancing service hours at library branches; providing classes, materials, and services to children and young adults; and acquiring new technology and providing materials in all existing and forthcoming formats. The measure states that revenues collected from the tax shall be used only to supplement, and not supplant, existing Library funding. Each year the Library Director would report the amount of funds collected and the status of projects funded by the tax revenue. The tax would be imposed on all retailers in the incorporated and unincorporated County for the selling of tangible personal property at retail, subject to certain exemptions and exclusions identified in the measure. If approved, the sales tax would apply only if the California Legislature agrees to raise the sales tax limit applicable in the County by at least the amount of the proposed tax. If two-thirds of the voters in the County who vote on this measure vote “Yes,” the measure will pass and the sales tax will be levied.	”
—Jeffrey M. Brax, Deputy County Counsel

Support

Supporters

The following individuals signed the official arguments in favor of Measure M:

• Brett W. Lear, Sonoma County Library Director
• Jean F. Schulz, taxpayer
• J. Forth, owner of Forth Dry Creek Estate LLC
• Paul Heavenridge, executive director of LiteracyWorks
• Elaine Carlson, Guerneville School District Superintendent on behalf of the district

Arguments in favor

The following was submitted as the official arguments in favor of Measure M:

“	A Yes vote will reopen our libraries on Mondays and expand evening and weekend hours. A Yes vote creates young readers and supports kids in school by maintaining children’s programs and services, including classes, storytimes, homework help, and literacy activities that educate and entertain our youngest residents. A Yes vote benefits seniors by enhancing the print book collection, funding educational and humanities-related events, and extending library services to homebound residents and underserved communities. Sonoma County Library serves nearly 500,000 residents with 11 full-service libraries, two rural stations, a specialized Wine Library, and a renowned Genealogy and Local History collection. Approximately 2 million people visit our libraries each year, checking out over 31/2 million books, DVDs, audio books, and eBooks. 62,000 children attend storytimes, events, and educational classes annually. 98% of Library funding comes from property taxes. Library property tax revenue declined significantly during the Great Recession, resulting in cuts to the book budget, unpaid employee furloughs, benefit reductions, unfilled staff vacancies, and a 25% cut in library hours of operation. Our library system now has one of the lowest per capita library expenditures in the state. A Yes vote results in strong financial accountability. Measure M mandates citizens’ oversight, an annual independent financial audit, and an annual report to the County Board of Supervisors, detailing Measure M funds collected and projects funded. All revenues must be used exclusively for library purposes and cannot be reallocated by the State. A Yes vote on this limited-term measure allows time to establish additional funding sources from community organizations and the private sector. A Yes vote also prevents additional cuts in library hours, collections, and services. Vote Yes on M and return our libraries to service levels comparable to other North Bay Libraries. A healthy County Library benefits all residents of Sonoma County.	”
—Brett W. Lear, Jean F. Schulz, J. Forth, Paul Heavenridge and Elaine Carlson

Opposition

No official arguments were submitted in opposition to Measure M. If you have an argument you would like to see posted here, please email the Local Ballot Measure Project staff writer.

Reports and analyses

Fiscal analysis

The following fiscal analysis of Measure M was provided by the Sonoma County Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector

“	This measure would increase the sales tax collected in Sonoma County by one-eighth of one cent per dollar (0.125%) of taxable sales. Based on records from the State Board of Equalization for the period of August 2013 through July 2014, taxable sales throughout Sonoma County amounted to $8,180,562,340. Applying a 0.125% additional sales tax to that amount would yield approximately $10,225,703 in additional revenue for the Sonoma County Library. In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013, the Library received $15,271,523 in total revenues, $14,881,487 of which was from property taxes. If the measure is approved by the voters, an additional $10,225,703 would be available for library programs as specified by the expenditure plan. The measure indicates that revenues provided by this measure will combine with existing funding sources without supplanting them. The additional revenues will increase Library funding by 67%, to an annual total of $25,497,226. Over the 10 year life of the measure, given current taxable spending in the county, the Library would receive additional funding in excess of $102,250,000. Expenditures: According to the Expenditure Plan, monies will be used to supplement existing revenue “exclusively for library purposes, including preserving the existing libraries; reversing the deterioration in services at existing libraries, upgrading of facilities, services, and collections; and extending branch library services to the unserved and under-served areas of the county.” The following specific projects have been identified: (1) Maintaining and enhancing local public libraries and the Library collections throughout the county; (2) Restoring pre-2011 service hours and enhancing service hours at Sonoma County Library branches in the cities of Cloverdale, Healdsburg, Petaluma, Rohnert Park-Cotati, Santa Rosa, Sebastopol, Sonoma, Windsor and Libraries in the unincorporated areas of the County; (3) Creating young readers and supporting children in school by providing classes, materials, and services that educate and entertain the children and young adults of Sonoma County; (4) Creating lifelong learning opportunities by providing the residents of Sonoma County with the assistance, books and materials, educational workshops, and technology necessary to succeed as parents, students, citizens, and workers; (5) Assuring that the public library provides access to information of all types and in any appropriate format, including traditional, digital, and forthcoming formats, so that all residents of Sonoma County shall enjoy the same rights to information, knowledge, entertainment, and wisdom; and (6) Acquiring new technology that would enhance the Library’s ability to serve the public. If the election is successful, the County will be reimbursed for the cost of the election from the proceeds of the tax. In accordance with the Elections Code, the scope of this fiscal impact statement has been limited to the measure’s effect on revenues and expenditures. It does not address larger countywide fiscal issues such as the measure’s effect on the overall County economy.	”
—David E. Sundstrom, Sonoma County Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector

See also

• Local sales tax on the ballot
• County tax on the ballot
• Sonoma County, California ballot measures
• November 4, 2014 ballot measures in California

External links

Suggest a link

• Sonoma County Registrar of Voters Office website

Additional reading

• Sonoma Index-Tribune, "A complication for Measure M," October 28, 2014