Meaning of Voting Yes/No

A YES vote of this measure means:

you are in favor of authorizing the transactions and use tax.

A NO vote of this measure means:

you are against authorizing the transactions and use tax.

The ballot measure provides for a Countywide transactions and use tax (sales tax) of one-eighth of one percent (0.125%) for eight (8) years, ending on March 31, 2009. The proceeds of the transactions and use tax will be used for the following public library purposes: to restore library services, programs, operations and facilities that were eliminated due to budget cutbacks; to maintain existing library services, programs, collections, operations and facilities; and to improve, upgrade and expand library services, programs, operations and facilities to all areas of the County, including, but not limited to, areas presently unserved or underserved. Projects for which the proceeds of the tax may be spent include, but are not limited to, the following:
1. Restoring, maintaining, and improving local public library services throughout the County.
2. Restoring, maintaining, and increasing open hours at libraries.
3. Restoring, maintaining and increasing the book and materials budgets at the libraries.
4. Restoring, maintaining, developing and increasing service programs (such as literacy, outreach, and volunteer programs) for user populations (such as children, seniors, physically challenged users, and businesses).
5. Acquiring and replacing library furniture, fixtures, and equipment.
6. Acquiring, renovating and constructing library facilities.
7. Restoring, maintaining and improving computer systems and library technology needs at the libraries.

Two-thirds of those voting on the measure must approve the measure for it to pass.

• Books and materials are outdated and worn.
• After-school and homework assistance programs have been reduced.
• Services that meet the needs of seniors are insufficient.
• Literacy programs for children and adults are inadequate
• Libraries are open too few hours on nights and weekends.

MEASURE L: EXCLUSIVELY FOR LIBRARIES: This measure increases the sales tax by just 1/8 of a penny, exclusively for library services. State and local laws guarantee the money can only be used for libraries. A Task Force of citizens and elected officials in each library region will ensure that funds will be used for services needed at your local library. Measure L automatically expires after eight years.

Vote YES for BOOKS AND MATERIALS: Doubling the books and materials budget will allow worn and outdated materials to be replaced.

Vote YES for AFTER-SCHOOL AND HOMEWORK PROGRAMS: Libraries are critical to improving education. Homework assistance, after-school programs, and joint-use programs with our schools will increase if this measure passes.

Vote YES for NIGHT and WEEKEND HOURS: Libraries will be open longer, more convenient hours, especially nights and weekends.

Vote YES for SENIOR SERVICES: Large-print books, books on tape, and mobile services will be improved with Measure L.

Vote YES for OUR FUTURE: More computer work-stations and Internet services for students and adults will be available with Measure L.

Learning Literacy, Local Libraries
Yes on Measure L

Gwen Watson, President, League of Women Voters of Diablo Valley

Joseph A. Ovick, Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools

Arnold Kasendorf, Chair, Richmond Commission on Aging

Bill Pence, Contra Costa Teacher of the Year

Alan Smith, Chair, Contra Costa Library Commission

• DESPITE STATE GOVERNMENT'S ENORMOUS $13 BILLION TAX SURPLUS, Measure L demands MORE from Contra Costa's overtaxed families.
• MEASURE L EFFECTIVELY ENDORSES CALIFORNIA'S $3.9 BILLION ANNUAL REVENUE SEIZURE FROM LOCAL JURISDICTIONS - misrepresented by politicians as money for schools (Dan Walter, Sacramento Bee, 7/20/00).
• DESPITE STATE REVENUE GRABS, CONTRA COSTA COUNTY IS "PROBABLY IN BETTER FISCAL CONDITION THAN AT ANY TIME IN THIS DECADE" (county administrator Phil Batchelor, quoted in "Plenty of Green in County Budget," Contra Costa Times, 7/17/99). Spending $1500 altogether annually per resident, supervisors could easily find $12.50 more for libraries.
• SINCE WHEN SHOULD THE ELECTORATE BE BRIBED...? "THAT'S "SHORT-SIGHTED AND SOPHOMORIC...COUNTY LEADERS HAVE BEEN PLAYING THE FIDDLE, WHILE THE [LIBRARY]SYSTEM BURNS" (Times editorial, 7/23/99).
• OUTSOURCING LIBRARY ADMINISTRATION WOULD PROVIDE BETTER SERVICE, AT LOWER COST-as Riverside County's comparably sized Library System already demonstrates.
• SALES-TAX INCREASES HIT FIXED-INCOME FOLKS HARDEST. And on average, Measure L extracts $50 more annually per family of four.
• LOCAL LIBRARIES INCREASINGLY SUBSIDIZE MERE ENTERTAINMENT. Service demands haven't "soared".

MEASURE L PROMOTERS ARE AGAIN USING TAX-EXEMPT FUNDS in their professionally orchestrated new-tax campaign. County vendors are "contributing" too - including $10,000 from a trash contractor. We question these practices, and hope you'll join our grass-roots opposition in voting... NO ON L!

http://www.alliancetaxpayers.net (925) 210-9985.

Donald E. Lively - Telecommunications Consultant; Founding Member, Lafayette Taxpayers Association

Anna Matey - Administrative Coordinator; West County Alliance of Taxpayers, San Pablo

Ernest F. Scherer, Jr. - CPA, San Ramon' Member, San Ramon Library Advisory Committee

Richard C. Soderholm - Commander, USN, Retired; Registered Professional Engineer; Board Member, Alliance of Contra Costa Taxpayers, Concord

Cynthia Vetter - Infant-Care Coordinator, Oakley; Member, Alliance of Contra Costa Taxpayers

IF "TOO LOW", VOTE FOR ADDITIONAL TAXES, OTHERWISE, WE RECOMMEND TELLING THE TAX PROMOTERS: "NO ON L!"

WE'RE TAXED ENOUGH NOW TO FUND LIBRARIES. If per capita funding is really "36th of 37 Bay Area library systems", it's not local taxpayers' fault.

BUT POLITICIANS DODGE HARD BUDGET DECISIONS by simply raising taxes. And they raise taxes by exploiting feelings and emotions about popular institutions like libraries, meanwhile spending discretionary funds on something else.

• "Just 1/8th of a penny"? Our CURRENT RATE: ALREADY 8.25 pennies grew a fraction of a penny at a time. WE'RE ALREADY TIED FOR SECOND-HIGHEST STATEWIDE, EXCEEDING THE RATES IN 52 OF CALIFORNIA'S 58 COUNTIES!
• MEASURE L WOULD RAISE CONTRA COSTA SALES TAXES TO 8.375%. And as Bay Bridge tolls (promised to end in 1956) remind, few things turn out more permanent than "temporary tax increases".
• "Just 1/8th of a penny" means $100 MILLION IN NEW TAXES over Measure L's advertised life.
• ACCT'S STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS HAVE REPEATEDLY OFFERED A DETAILED, NO-FEE EXAMINATION OF CONTRA COSTA'S BUDGET to find money for more library hours, literacy programs, etc. But county politicians have refused the offer, evidently preferring new taxes.
• MEANWHILE, "COUNTY GOVERNMENT JOBS ARE PAYING WELL." (Contra Costa Times report, 11/22/98). 133 full-time equivalent County Library employees already AVERAGE $63,390 in taxpayer-provided annual compensation, including 35% in benefit add-ons.
• ONLY 6.2% OF MEASURE L BUYS NEW BOOKS AND MATERIALS. The rest goes mostly for additional payroll and benefits...including 90 new positions.

PLEASE VOTE NO ON L!

Kenneth E Hambrick - Management Consultant; Chairman, Alliance of Contra Costa Taxpayers; Former Grand Jury Member, Walnut Creek

Norma Hernandez - Former City Council Member; Senior Citizen Advocate, Citizens for Democracy, Antioch

Karl Kaste - Information Technology Director; Founder, Concord Association of Taxpayers

Evelyn Munn - Board Member, Alliance of Contra Costa Taxpayers; Former Mayor, Walnut Creek

Scott Wilson - Equipment Service Manager; Contra Costa Chairman, Libertarian Party, Concord

Fact: After-school and homework assistance programs have been reduced.

Fact: Literacy programs for children and adults are inadequate.

Fact: Services for seniors are insufficient.

Fact: Libraries are open too few night and weekend hours.

Measure L is an opportunity to tell government exactly how to spend tax dollars, giving you local and personal control over government spending. A Task Force in your area will ensure that funds are used for services and materials most needed locally.

Opponents Argue: Make the libraries more efficient.
The Truth: One of America's leading auditing firms found that the library is well managed and efficiently operated.

Opponents Argue: Measure L will last forever.
The Truth: By law, Measure L automatically expires in eight years.

Opponents Argue: Find the money elsewhere.
The Truth: The issue is the lack of available funds. The Contra Costa County Grand Jury recognized the gravity when more than ten years ago it reported that our library system was failing due to chronic underfunding. Complex state funding requirements prevent the County from allocating more funding to libraries.

The question is simple and straightforward: Is your local branch library and the services it provides worth 1/8 of a penny? We think it is.

Please Join Us. Vote Yes on Measure L.

Warren E. Rupf, Sheriff

Joe Fisher, President, West County Minority Business Association

Neil Gerstner, Chairman of the Board, Walnut Creek Chamber of Commerce

Senator Richard Rainey

Assemblymember Tom Torlakson