League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	Marin County, CA June 3, 2014 Election
	Measure A Marin County Free Library Marin County Free Library District Special Parcel Tax - 2/3 Approval Required See Also: Index of all Measures

Arguments For Measure A

Vote YES to renew Measure A for Marin libraries + protect important programs and services for children and people with disabilities, keep materials collections up-to-date, and most importantly prevent branches from closing and operating hours from being cut. Our Marin County libraries are an extremely valuable community resource. Since 2010 there has been a 24% increase in library visits and a 26% increase in material circulation. Renewing Measure A is critical to protecting services that are relied upon by many, including children, seniors and people with disabilities. Thanks to Measure A, there were 38,886 participants in youth and teen programs in 2013 alone. Measure A funding allows our libraries to provide computer access for those without home access, and offer critical job-training and employment assistance services. Most importantly, Measure A ensures that all branches remain open and available to the public. Without Measure A this essential source of local funding will expire and our libraries would be forced to cut hours, collections and services. All Measure A funds will remain under local control to support Marin County libraries + nothing can be cut by the State or redirected for other purposes. Vote Yes on A: Maintain library hours and prevent closures Enhance and maintain collections of books and dig- ital materials Maintain programs and services for children Protect services and ensure access for people with disabilities Provide access to computers and job training pro- grams for all residents Fiscal Accountability is Required: All funds stay under local control to support our libraries + nothing can be taken or redirected by the State Oversight and reports by a newly appointed independent Citizens' Oversight Committee Seniors are eligible for an exemption from the cost Measure A has been critical to maintaining hours, preventing closures, and protecting important programs. Vote YES on A to renew this funding and protect our local libraries! s/JARED HUFFMAN Member of Congress, 2nd District s/ROBERT BERNER Former Executive Director, Marin Agricultural Land Trust s/ALISON DANA HOWARD Measure A Oversight Committee, MCFL Library Commission, Professor, Dominican University s/J. DIETRICH STROEH Former Novato Citizen of the Year, Former President, Novato Chamber of Commerce s/ELISABETH "SUKI" SENNETT Vice President, League of Women Voters of Marin County (No arguments against Measure A were submitted)

Full Text of Measure A

RESOLUTION NO. 2014-17 RESOLUTION OF THE MARIN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE MARIN COUNTY FREE LIBRARY CALLING FOR AN ELECTION TO IMPOSE A SPECIAL TAX UPON PARCELS LOCATED WITHIN THE COUNTY OF MARIN FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING ESSENTIAL FUNDING TO PROTECT AND MAINTAIN LIBRARY SERVICES WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors determines that it is the best interest of property owners within the County Free Library to place a levy on parcels in the Marin County Library to provide critical funding for library services and facilities for the residents of the District and to fund said services through imposition of a special tax; and WHEREAS, pursuant to California Education Code Section 19173; California Government Code Sections 29100, et seq. and 50075, et seq., Revenue and Taxation Code Section 2151, et seq., and in compliance with California Constitution Article XIIIC, the Board of Supervisors is hereby authorized to adopt this resolution to establish and impose (subject to voter approval) a special tax upon all taxable real property located within the Marin County Free Library; and WHEREAS, Marin County voters previously adopted a special tax for library services for the Marin County Free Library, for the fiscal years 2010-2011, which is set to expire in 2014-2015. WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors proposes to renew the special tax in the amounts specified below beginning fiscal year 2015-2016 and continuing through fiscal year 2023-2024; and WHEREAS, the special tax continuing for a period of nine (9) years, if approved by the electorate, will not exceed the spending limit pursuant to California Constitution Article XIIIB; and WHEREAS, the tax rate will increase annually commensurate with the annual percentage increase to the San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose Price Index for All Urban Consumers ("CPI"), not to exceed 3% annually, and WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors conducted a public hearing on February 25, 2014. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the special tax established by this Resolution shall be submitted to the registered voters within the Marin County Free Library in the primary Election on June 3, 2014. The question submitted to the voters shall read substantially as follows: To provide critical funding to: upgrade local libraries, prevent closures, and maintain library hours; provide children, teen, senior and disabled programs including public education support; maintain books and digital collections; enhance library facilities and ADA accessibility; and ensure local funding can't be taken by the State, shall Marin County Free Library extend the current approved 2010, $49 parcel tax for 9 years with BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a "parcel" shall be defined as any parcel of land, developed or undeveloped, wholly or partially located within the District, for which the County Assessor of Marin County has assigned an assessor's identification number, provided, however, that any such parcels which are contiguous, held under the identical ownership, may, upon approval of an application of the owners and/or authorized designee thereof to the Director of County Library Services or his/her designee, be treated as a single parcel for purposes for this special annual CPI adjustment, including independent citizen oversight and senior citizen exemptions? BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the special tax is for the specific purpose of bringing libraries up-to-date, preventing library closures, maintaining library hours, preserving educational and job-seeking resources for low-income residents and preventing staff lay-offs, maintaining collections of books, CDs, DVDs, digital materials and services; enhance ADA accessibility; and ensuring local funding that can't be taken by the State. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the proceeds for the special tax be applied only to the specific purposes stated above. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that should the electorate approve the special tax, a special account will be created into which the special tax proceeds will be deposited. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the chief fiscal officer is hereby directed to prepare an annual report pursuant to Government Code Section 50075.3. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Marin County Board of Supervisors will appoint an independent citizen oversight committee to ensure that the funds are spent as described above tax. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that any owner age sixty-five (65) years and over of a parcel used solely for owner-occupied single family residential purposes may obtain an exemption from the special tax upon approval of an application of such owner submitted to the Director of County Library Services or his/her designee. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that parcels which are classified by County Assessor Use Codes 12, 13, 15, and 53-90 are exempt from this special tax. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that pursuant to the provisions of Elections Code Section 1002, the Board of Supervisors of the Marin County Free Library authorizes and directs the Marin County Clerk/Registrar of Voters to render all services necessary for the conduct of the election. The costs of the ballot election shall be borne by the Marin County Free Library. BE IT RESOLVED that the Marin County Tax Collector shall collect the special tax annually in the same manner and subject to the same penalties as County property taxes are collected. The County shall be entitled to deduct its reasonable costs incurred collecting the special tax before such tax is remitted to the Marin County Free Library. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the special tax shall be deemed established and shall be in effect beginning with the 2015-2016 fiscal year upon certification of the election results evidencing approval by at least two-thirds of the registered voters voting thereon. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this resolution shall be liberally construed to achieve its purposes and preserve its validity. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this resolution is for any reason held to be unconstitutional or invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portion of this resolution. The Board of Supervisors hereby declares that it would have passed this resolution and every section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, sentences, clauses or phrases be declared unconstitutional or invalid. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that pursuant to Government Code Section 50077.5 and Code of Civil Procedure Section 860, any judicial action or proceeding to attack, review, set aside, or annul this special tax, if approved by the voters, shall be commenced within 60 days of the effective date of this resolution. PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors of the Marin County Free Library held on this 25th day of February 2014, by the following vote: AYES: SUPERVISORS Judy Arnold, Susan L. Adams, Steve Kinsey, Katie Rice, Kathrin Sears NOES: NONE ABSENT: NONE s/KATHRIN SEARS President, Board of Supervisors ATTEST: s/M. S. HYMEL, Clerk