See Also: Index of all Measures

OF MEASURE F

This measure, if approved by 2/3 of the voters voting on the measure, would authorize a special tax within the South Lake Tahoe Zone of Benefit (Zone F) of County Service Area No. 10, to be used solely to provide extended library services within that zone. This tax would replace existing benefit assessments (fees) that are scheduled to expire on June 30, 2005, and would be used for the same purpose of supporting the county's South Lake Tahoe library. The annual tax would be $15 per parcel of land (improved and unimproved), except that the tax on property developed with apartment units (excluding time shares) would be $12 per apartment, and the tax on property developed as mobile home parks would be $7.50 per mobile home. The tax rate will be increased annually in proportion to any increase in the Consumer Price Index; provided, that the annual increase cannot exceed 3%. The tax on single family residential parcels cannot exceed a maximum of $20 per year.

The tax will be collected beginning in fiscal year 2005-2006 and will be listed as a separate item on the county property tax bill for each parcel of land. The special tax will be collected in the same way as the general property tax. All laws applicable to the levy, collection, and enforcement of county property taxes, including provisions for penalties and procedure for sale of the property in case of delinquency, shall also apply to the special tax. The tax will be imposed for a period of 10 years, after which the special tax will expire and will no longer be collected.

Beginning in fiscal year 2005-2006, if the special tax is approved by the voters, the Board of Supervisors is required annually to budget and allocate from the county's general funds a sum equal to or greater than the special tax collected annually, for the operation of the county library system.

On November 7, 1995, the voters within the South Lake Tahoe Zone of Benefit (Zone F) of CSA No. 10 approved a ballot measure authorizing the collection of a benefit assessment (fee) of $15 per dwelling unit to support extended library services within the zone. That fee has been collected annually and used for the support of the county's South Lake Tahoe library. However, that fee expires, or "sunsets," on June 30, 2005, and can no longer be collected.

If this measure is approved by 2/3 of the voters on March 8, 2005, the special tax will replace the benefit assessment. If the measure is not approved, those funds will no longer be available for the support of library services within the zone.

This measure requires an affirmative vote of 2/3 or more of all voters voting on the measure in order to pass.

A "YES" vote is a vote to authorize the special tax provided in the measure.

A "NO" vote is a vote against the special tax provided in the measure.

s/ LOUIS B. GREEN County Counsel

Support our library. Vote YES on Measure F.

Funding for the South Lake Tahoe Library, passed by voters ten years ago, is about to expire + at a time when reading, technology, education, and literacy are more important than ever before.

For only $15 per year we can restore the funding that has kept our library open, put new books on the shelves and provided programs that promote the importance of reading for children.

• This special tax will continue the $15 a year assessment we are already paying.
• This measure PROTECTS library funding + it cannot be diverted to other county programs.
• The County Board of Supervisors is REQUIRED to match 100% of the funds raised by this measure and use those matching funds to support the county library system.
• All money raised by this special tax will be returned to the South Lake Tahoe Library to pay for books and materials, hours of operation, and library services.
• Measure F includes a mechanism to increase our library funding as costs go up, but the special tax will never be more than $20 per parcel. This measure will expire after ten years.

The South Lake Tahoe Library is a valuable asset for the community that everyone, young and old, can enjoy. If we truly want our children to value reading, we must make reading and libraries a priority.

Please join us in protecting our library and vote YES on Measure F.

s/ David Solaro County Supervisor, District 5
s/ Ellen Day President, Taxpayers Association of El Dorado County
s/ Eric A. Eymann President, Lodging Association South Lake Tahoe
s/ John P. DeMasi President + South Lake Tahoe Senior Citizens, Inc.
s/ Roberta L. Mason College Trustee

WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors has previously established the authority for County Service Area No. 10 to provide extended library services and facilities, and did, on August 1, 1995, establish the South Lake Tahoe Zone of Benefit (Zone F) within County Service Area No. 10 for the purpose of providing such extended services, and

WHEREAS, on July 27, 1995 the Board of Supervisors passed and adopted Resolution 212-95 which established a benefit assessment for extended library services for a period of ten years, and which was approved by the voters at the general election on November 7, 1995, and

WHEREAS, the benefit assessment is due to expire on June 30, 2005, which will leave the county unable to provide library services in Zone of Benefit F (South Lake Tahoe), and

WHEREAS, Government Code section 25210.6a expressly authorizes a county service area to levy a special tax for extended library services subject to voter approval, and

WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors proposes to levy a special tax for the purpose of funding library services within the zone according to the methodology as set forth below in order to replace the expiring benefit assessment and to ensure that funding will exist to maintain library hours and operations,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Supervisors finds, determines, declares and orders as follows:

1. That upon approval by the voters as set forth in this Resolution, there shall be levied and assessed annually a special tax to be used solely for extended library services in Zone F on each parcel of property, improved and unimproved, residential and non-residential, within South Lake Tahoe Zone F of County Service Area No. 10, in the sum of $15.00 per parcel commencing with the fiscal year 2005-2006 and continuing each fiscal year thereafter, except for those parcels as outlined as follows:

A. The annual amount of the special tax on parcels of land developed with multi-family residential dwelling units (excluding time shares) shall be eighty percent (80%) of the base tax used for single family dwellings multiplied by the number of multi-family residential dwelling units on the parcel.
B. The amount of the special tax on parcels of land developed as mobile home parks shall be fifty percent (50%) of the base tax used for single family dwellings multiplied by the number of mobile home park dwelling units on the parcel.
C. Parcels of land developed with churches, cemeteries, or schools shall be exempt from this special tax.

2. "Parcel of property" as used in this resolution shall mean any contiguous unit of real property held in separate ownership, which is capable of sale or transfer without further action under the Subdivision Map Act (Government Code section 66410, et seq.).

3. The tax imposed by this resolution shall appear as a separate item on the tax bill of each such taxable parcel and shall be collected at the same time and manner as county property taxes are collected as set forth in the applicable provisions of the Revenue and Taxation Code, and shall be subject to the same penalties and the same procedure and sale in case of delinquency as provided for such taxes. All laws applicable to the levy, collection, and enforcement of county property taxes shall be applicable to such tax.

4. The tax shall be imposed only for a period of ten (10) years, at the end of which time the special tax shall cease to be imposed.

5. The tax rate shall be increased annually in proportion to the increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), San Francisco Area, all items, most recently available prior to the date of the increase, provided, however, that this increase shall not exceed three percent (3%) in any year. The base special tax on single family residences shall not exceed $20.00 per taxable parcel.

6. The Board of Supervisors, commencing with the fiscal year 2005-2006, shall annually budget and allocate from the County General Fund for the operation of the county library system an amount equal to or greater than 100% of the annually collected special library taxes for those zones receiving voter approval on March 8, 2005.