57738 / 48.0% Yes votes ...... 62572 / 52.0% No votes

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In fiscal year 1992/1993, the State of California began reducing local government?s share of property tax dollars. That same year, the State eliminated the Special District Augmentation Fund which had specifically funded public libraries. The Board has determined that this loss of funding, together with other State-imposed revenue reductions, has resulted in the permanent loss of over $1 million annually of ongoing revenues for public libraries in the County. The Board has also determined that this loss has reduced library building repairs and maintenance, resulted in fewer purchases of new books and other library materials, and has decreased the hours that the library is open to the public. Despite these reductions, the public's use of public library facilities has increased during this eleven-year period.

In order to restore and protect public library services within the County, the Board has decided to submit to the voters of the County the question of whether an ordinance shall be adopted imposing a retail transactions and use tax in accordance with provisions of the Revenue and Taxation Code section 7286.59, which authorizes the County to adopt this tax ordinance. The tax would increase the countywide sales tax by 0.25% for a period of five years. The revenue generated by the tax would be used only for the following purposes: (1) repairing, maintaining and upgrading public library facilities and equipment; (2) restoring and protecting funding to the book and material budgets at the San Luis Obispo City -County Library and the Paso Robles Public Library; (3) restoring and enhancing open hours at San Luis Obispo City -County Library branches and at the Paso Robles Public Library; (4) restoring, protecting, and enhancing library services and programs for older adults; and (5) restoring, protecting, and enhancing library services and programs for children and young adults. The special tax authorized by this Measure will be imposed only in the event that two-thirds (2/3) of the qualified voters voting on the Measure approve it.

A "yes" vote on this Measure is a vote in favor of imposing a transactions and use tax in the amount of 0.25% for the purpose of providing funding for public library building maintenance and repairs, operations, programs, and acquisitions of books and other library materials for the benefit of the public.

A "no" vote on this Measure is a vote against imposing a transactions and use tax in the amount of 0.25% for the purpose of providing funding for public library building maintenance and repairs, operations, programs, and acquisitions of books and other library materials for the benefit of the public.

s/ James B. Lindholm, Jr.
County Counsel