Sacramento Bee: Sacramento voters will consider a tax to support libraries. Here’s why the funds are needed

Sacramento Bee

September 16, 2024

Sacramento library boosters are pushing to combine and extend two city parcel taxes, in a bid to protect library revenues and spare officials the process of seeking renewal every five or six years.

The funds, library officials say, will ensure that city branches can stay open five days a week and continue key services.

“Our libraries are safe spaces for kids. They’re safe spaces for seniors. They’re safe spaces for our unhoused population,” said Mayor Pro Tem Karina Talamantes. “Public libraries contribute so much to society.”

Measure E would combine and extend two existing taxes that fund the libraries. The first — passed in 2004 and extended in 2016 — was set at $26.60 per year for single-family residences, with annual increases capped at 3%. The second, passed in 2014, added a $12 per-parcel tax. The taxes were approved for periods of 10 and 12 years, respectively.

Katie Hanzlik, campaign manager for Measure E, said the measure’s proponents believe that voting on the renewals over and over again has been confusing for voters — and labor-intensive for the libraries.

“For something as important as the library to have to run a campaign every four to six years,” Hanzlik said, “is a lot of work and money.”

The new measure would extend the parcel taxes indefinitely. It would not raise the rates, which already rise incrementally in line with inflation. Talamantes said the campaign considered the cost-of-living increases residents have weathered over the past few years and decided not to push for any additional increase.

Sacramento Public Library Director and CEO Peter Coyl said the system works to be frugal. His staff apply for a lot of grants.

“We do try to be very good stewards of the taxpayer money,” Coyl said.

The taxes provide about 16% of the libraries’ annual revenues. If those dollars went away, Coyl said, city branches would be forced to cut jobs and reduce their days. The library system has 28 branches and employs around 400 full-time equivalents.

“It would be catastrophic,” said Patricia Sayer-Handley, president of the Friends of the North Sacramento Hagginwood Library. “We have people who use it as a cooling center — and a warming center in the winters. We have these critical programs for low-income students.”

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