45,214 / 64.2% Yes votes ...... 25,185 / 35.8% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

N.B.,The May 3, 2005 election is an all mail ballot election. All registered voters who live in areas served by the County Library System will be mailed a ballot. Ballots must be returned to the Registrar of Voters by 8 p.m. on May 3.

Santa Clara County Library

Support Our Libraries

Libertarian Party of Santa Clara County

Measures A and B have been placed on the ballot to maintain basic library services in our community. Measure A is very simple: it continues a $33.66 yearly assessment first approved by voters in 1994 to support local libraries. Measure A does not increase your tax rate.

Measure B increases the library assessment you currently pay by $1 per month to restore library hours and services that have recently been cut. Measure B will only take effect if Measure A is also approved.

Please vote Yes on Measures A and B.

$1 per month may not seem like much but it will provide the local funding our libraries need to keep their doors open so that students and seniors have access to books and research materials.

Our local libraries consistently win national awards for providing innovative services and programs. However, our libraries cannot continue to offer this excellent level of service if libraries are closed and service hours are reduced.

Without Measures A and B, students who rely on our libraries would no longer have access to the books and materials they need. Neighborhood libraries provide students with homework assistance and research materials for school assignments. Summer reading programs and story time programs in our libraries teach many young children to read.

Many seniors on fixed incomes rely on our local libraries. Measure B will ensure that the award winning bookmobile program continues to bring books to senior citizen centers, pre-schools and to rural, isolated areas of the County.

The same local funding guarantee that applies to Measure A, also applies to Measure B: Every penny that a taxpayer in a given city pays can only be used for the operation of the local library in that community.

Please vote Yes on both Measures A and B.

Donald F. Gage
Santa Clara County Supervisor, District 1

Blanca Alvarado
Santa Clara County Supervisor, District 2/First Five Children and Families Commission, Board Member

Pete McHugh
Santa Clara County Supervisor, District 3

Jim Beall
Santa Clara County Supervisor, District 4/Santa Clara County Joint Child Care Committee, Committee Member

Liz Kniss
Santa Clara County Supervisor, District 5/Santa Clara County Joint Powers Authority Member

Two Measures for one district, in an off-election year indicate one thing:

The Joint Powers Authority (JPA) is attempting a "land grab" on your wallet.

Measure B is a blatant attempt to stuff in an additional tax that they couldn't fit into Measure A.

Once they pay for the cost of running the election (which will cost up to $2.2 million to run), the JPA incurs almost no additional charges to run additional measures. The JPA has two measures on the ballot which allowed them to increase the amount of space to make its arguments (and more ways to take money out of your wallet.)

Fortunately, if you vote NO on Measure A, Measure B is AUTOMATICALLY defeated.

Measure B would increase your tax rate.

Please vote NO on Measures A & B.

Go to http://VoteNoOnB.us for more information.

Allan Hacker
Chair, Libertarian Party of Santa Clara County

Dennis M. Umphress
President, Silicon Valley Taxpayers' Association

Jack E. Davis
President, S.C.V. Republican Assembly

Mark W. A. Hinkle
Past Chair, Libertarian Party of California

How accountable can we expect the Santa Clara County Joint Powers Authority (JPA) to be when their web site as of February 9, has minutes from only the July 2004 meeting when they meet on a regular basis? The agendas are also out of date. Is this just an oversight, a financially motivated abandonment, or is the JPA simply withholding information from the electronic public?

Expect that after this argument goes to press, the minutes and agendas will be updated.

In those minutes that are posted, there are a few little gems (April 2004):

A librarian "further commented that front line staff are the best advertisement for any new Library measure."

What exactly does that mean? Use of employee time to promote a ballot measure?

Another librarian "commented she was concerned if the Library goes back in June 2005 will the voters perceive the new measure as an extension and if we go back after June what is the cost to us in voters viewing the measure as a new tax."

A Tax is a Tax is a Tax.

For the single agenda posted (August 26, 2004), there is an agenda item:
"Consider approving budget amendment in the amount of $361,000 and authorizing professional services for community education and public opinion research services."

It looks like the JPA is going to hire a PR firm to help "sell" this measure to the public. This is a complete waste of money. $361,000 can buy a lot of books and pay for a few librarians.

Demand accountability.

Demand better service.

Demand an efficient library system.

But don't do it by giving the JPA a "pay raise."

Vote NO on Measure B.

Allan Hacker
Chair, Libertarian Party of Santa Clara County

Dennis M. Umphress
President, Silicon Valley Taxpayers' Association

Jack E. Davis
President, S.C.V. Republican Assembly

Mark W. A. Hinkle
Past Chair, Libertarian Party of California

The opponents' argument focuses on issues unrelated to Measures A and B because they can't argue against the need for these important measures.

Last year, our libraries lost over $1 million in funding. As a result, the budget for book purchases was slashed and most of our libraries are closed on Sundays and Mondays.

Measure A prevents further budget cuts without increasing your taxes. Measure B restores what was cut last year by assessing a modest $1 per month.

Local libraries play an important role in our communities. Libraries are where children listen to stories and learn to read, where students receive tutoring and learn how to access information.

Libraries also provide seniors, who often live on fixed incomes, with free access to books and other information.

Pre-school aged children, senior citizens and community members of all ages benefit from having an excellent library in their community.

Without Measures A and B, library service in each of the following communities will be reduced: Campbell, Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Milpitas, Monte Sereno, Morgan Hill, Saratoga and the unincorporated areas of Santa Clara County, including Alum Rock.

Measures A and B are frugal, carefully crafted proposals to prevent devastating cuts to our local libraries and restore access to books and other materials.

There are no frills. All funds will go directly to local libraries to maintain service hours and collections.

For more information visit http://www.SupportOurLibraries.org

Please vote Yes on A and B.

Yufen Diana Wu
Chinese American Librarians Association

Dianne McKenna
former County Supervisor

Stan Arterberry
Chancellor, West Valley/Mission Community College District

Kristina M. Semersheim
Executive Secretary, Service Employees International Union Local 715

C. Donald Allen
Chairman, Cupertino National Bank

Sig Sanchez
Water District Director