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Stanislaus County, California, Library Sales Tax, Measure S (November 2017)
| Measure S: Stanislaus County Library Sales Tax |
|---|
|
| The basics |
| Election date: |
| November 7, 2017 |
| Status: |
 ApprovedMajority required: 66.67% |
| Topic: |
| Local sales tax Expires in: 12 years |
| Related articles |
| Local sales tax on the ballot November 7, 2017 ballot measures in California Stanislaus County, California ballot measures County tax on the ballot |
| See also |
| Stanislaus County, California |
A library sales tax measure was on the ballot for Stanislaus County voters in Stanislaus County, California, on November 7, 2017. It was approved.
| A yes vote was a vote in favor of authorizing the county to levy a 0.125 percent (one-eighth cent) sales tax for 12 years to fund library services. Measure S was designed to continue a then-existing tax set to expire. |
| A no vote was a vote against authorizing the county to levy a 0.125 percent (one-eighth cent) sales tax for 12 years to fund library services. Measure S was designed to continue a then-existing tax set to expire. |
Measure S was designed to extend the library sales tax—first approved in 1995—for an additional 12 years. Measure S maintains the county sales tax rate at 0.675 percent. As of October 2017, the average total sales tax rate for cities in Stanislaus County was 7.92 percent.[1]
City officials stated that the library sales tax had brought in approximately $10 million a year.[2]
A two-thirds (66.67%) vote was required for the approval of Measure S.
Election results
| Measure S | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Yes | 41,986 | 82.31% | ||
| No | 9,025 | 17.69% | ||
- Election results from Stanislaus County Registrar of Voters
Text of measure
Ballot question
The ballot question was as follows:[3]
| “ |
To maintain local library funding the State cannot take, keep branches open, maintain hours, provide programs for children, teens, adults and seniors, children’s story times, literacy, homework and job search resources, maintain books, CDs, DVDs and reference materials -- shall Stanislaus County extend the existing one-eighth percent library sales tax for 12 years, commencing July 1, 2018, generating approximately $10 million annually, with an independent citizens oversight committee ensuring funds are spent only on Stanislaus County Libraries?[4] |
” |
Impartial analysis
The following impartial analysis of the measure was prepared by the office of the Stanislaus County Counsel:
| “ |
The Board of Supervisors has adopted ordinance CS-1194 proposing to impose a one-eighth of one percent transactions and use tax for County library purposes in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in Revenue and Taxation Code section 7286.59. The proposed tax is subject to approval by the voters of Stanislaus County. Prior to July 1, 1995, due to State budget actions, the Countywide Library suffered severe budget reductions causing an inability to provide adequate library services to County residents. Revenue and Taxation Code section 7286.59 authorizes counties to adopt a transactions and use “sales” tax at the rate of one-eighth of one percent, subject to a two-thirds vote of those voting in an election on the measure to fund libraries, for a period not to exceed 16 years. On March 7, 1995, the voters, by more than a two-thirds vote, approved a five-year Library Sales Tax effective from July 1, 1995 until June 30, 2000. In 1999, voters, by more than a two-thirds vote, approved a five-year extension of the tax to June 30, 2005. In 2004, more than twothirds of the voters approved an eight-year extension of the library tax through June 30, 2013. In 2012, more than two-thirds of the voters again voted for a five-year extension, which will expire on June 30, 2018, unless Measure “S” is adopted. If approved by at least two-thirds vote of the voters voting on November 7, 2017, Measure “S” will again extend the County’s one-eighth of one percent sales tax; this time for 12 years so that it will next expire on June 30, 2030. If approved, the one-eighth of one percent library transaction and use tax will be collected and administered for the County by the State Board of Equalization, effective July 1, 2018. The purpose of the Library Tax is to augment the County’s funding of the library. Pursuant to Revenue and Taxation Code section 7286.59, and the ordinance proposing the tax, the proceeds of the tax can only be used for library construction, acquisition, programs and operations. These uses include purchases of new materials, technology, various programs for children, teens, seniors and the disabled, maintaining library hours, maintenance, and upgrades of facilities and services. The estimated $10 million annually in tax proceeds are required to be placed in a separate account and a report is required to be prepared and delivered to the Board of Supervisors each year regarding use of the tax proceeds. The expenditures of the funds from the tax will be reviewed by an independent citizen’s oversight committee. If this measure fails to pass by the required two-thirds vote, countywide library programs and operations may have to be severely cut back or eliminated altogether. A “YES” vote approves the tax. A “NO” vote rejects the tax.[4] |
” |
| —Stanislaus County Counsel[2] | ||
Full text
The full text of the measure is available here.
Support
Supporters
| Save Stanislaus Libraries campaign video |
The Save Stanislaus Libraries campaign was formed to urge voters to vote yes on Measure S.[5]
The campaign's website stated, "Without this money – which provides over 80% of the library’s funding - the impact on every library in the county will be devastating. Many branches will close."[5]
The Modesto Bee said: "We urge voters to extend the eighth-cent sales tax, which we’ve been paying since 1995. It costs the average family about $18 a year. ... Stanislaus is one of seven counties that supports its library with a small sales tax. Voting Yes on Measure S renews our commitment to keeping our library great."[6]
An official argument was submitted in favor of the measure by the following proponents:[2]
- Mary F. Giventer, President, League of Women Voters of Stanislaus County
- Vito Chiesa, Stanislaus County Supervisor
- Jeri Johnson, President, Stanislaus County Commission on Aging
- Virginia Madueno, Former Mayor of Riverbank
- John Korgan, Vice President, Modesto City Fire Fighters Association, Local 1289
According to the proponents, the following organizations supported Measure S:
- League of Women Voters
- Modesto Chamber of Commerce
- Modesto Firefighters
- Stanislaus County Probation Officers
- Stanislaus County Commission on Aging
- Rotary Club of Turlock
Arguments in favor
The following official argument was submitted in favor of the measure:
| “ |
Measure S saves Stanislaus County libraries, without raising or adding new taxes. While demands for library services from students, seniors, innovators and job seekers are skyrocketing, our libraries are doing more with less, working hard to improve efficiency, and delivering cost effective, quality services that nearly 415,000 library card holders value. But if Measure S doesn’t pass, many – if not all – library branches will close. Examine the facts: Measure S is not a new tax. It merely continues the one-eighth of a penny sales tax we already pay, which was previously approved and renewed by voters. These funds amount to 88% of the county library’s budget. This money can only be used for libraries. It can’t be taken by the state or county or diverted for other uses. An independent citizens’ oversight committee is written into the measure to ensure funds are being spent in the way voters approved. This measure automatically expires in 12 years and can’t be extended without approval by two-thirds of voters. A Yes vote on Measure S will preserve programs families value like children’s story times; give teens a safe place to study and prepare for college; maintain collections of books, magazines, CD’s, DVD’s, audio and e-books; support programs to fight illiteracy; maintain services for seniors like large print books and computer training; keep up resources for workers, business people and veterans; and provide free access to public computers and wireless internet. Most importantly – Measure S will keep our libraries open and prevent branches from closing altogether! Join the League of Women Voters, Modesto Chamber of Commerce, Modesto Firefighters, Stanislaus County Probation Officers, Stanislaus County Commission on Aging, Rotary Club of Turlock, and hundreds of leaders throughout the county who are fighting to save our libraries. Vote Yes on Measure S.[4] |
” |
| —Mary F. Giventer, Vito Chiesa, Jeri Johnson, Virginia Madueno, and John Korgan | ||
Opposition
Barbara Lewis Jensen of the Stanislaus Republican Party said on the Facebook page V.O.T.E. Stanislaus County: "Don't be suckered into voting FOR a TAX! Measure S perpetuates a bad system for funding libraries ... Now that cities and the county are no longer in the red, we need to end this tax and force our cities and county to again create line items in their budgets for our library system."[7]
Path to the ballot
This measure was put on the ballot through a vote of the Stanislaus County supervisors on May 16, 2017.[8]
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Stanislaus County Local sales tax Measure S. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Inside Gov, "Compare Stanislaus County Sales Tax," accessed October 25, 2017
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Stanislaus County Elections Office, "E-Sample Ballot Pamphlet," accessed October 25, 2017
- ↑ Stanislaus County Elections Office, "Local Measures - November 7, 2017," accessed September 22, 2017
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Say Yes to S! "Home," accessed October 25, 2017
- ↑ The Modesto Bee, "We’ve got a great library, vote Yes on S to keep it that way," September 23, 2017
- ↑ V.O.T.E. Stanislaus County Facebook, "Barbara Lewis Jensen post," October 24, 2017
- ↑ The Modesto Bee, "November ballot will include 12-year extension of county library tax," May 16, 2017
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