LIBRARY TAX MEASURE

Facts, Figures, and Goals

June 3, 2015
City of South Pasadena

History of Library Special Tax

First approved by voters in June 1994 for a term of five years.

Term and rates have remained unchanged since 1994 with no CPI
adjustment to account for cost-of-living or inflationary increases.

Measure was renewed by voters in:

1999 by an 87%

margin.
2005 by an 84% margin.
2009 by an 80% margin.
Library Special Tax Measure would be
up for renewal in the next General
Municipal Election: November 3, 2015

About the Library Special Tax

The Measure has cost homeowners with
residences under 2,000 square feet $24 per year,
about the price of one new book.
Restricted use of the special tax: any revenue
generated by the special tax can only be used for
maintenance, operating, and administrative costs
of the Library.
The Library Special Tax is collected by the
Los Angeles County Assessor in the same
manner as property taxes.

If the CPI had been applied

$344,526
$230,000

Annual Rate by Category for Special

Tax showsSquare
firstFeetyear increase
over theProposed
current
Property Type
Current Annual Tax
Annual Tax
rate:

Single family
residences, condos

Multi-family
residential units

(shall not exceed)

first year after passage

(shall not exceed)

Less than 2,000 sq ft

(buildable area)

$24

$32

Between 2,001-4,000 sq ft
(buildable area)

$36

$48

More than 4,000 sq ft

(buildable area)

$48

$64

All

$12 /dwelling unit

$24
$48
$72
$96

$16 /dwelling unit

$32
$64
$96
$128

acre or less lot acre

Non-residential
parcels

to acre lot area

acre to acre lot area
More than acre lot area

Projections if Measure passes in

November
2015
Fiscal Year
Projected Tax Revenues

based on2015-16
a 33.3% increase
in 16/17 and a 3%
$230,000
increase 2016-17
each year for the
subsequent 6 years
$306,590
2017-18

$315,787

2018-19

$325,261

2019-20

$335,018

2020-21

$345,069

2021-22

$355,421

2022-23

$366,084

Library Strategic Goals/Objectives

Library Needs, Upgrades, and Improvements Articulated by the Public and Staff
in STRATEGIC PLAN AND MISSION STATEMENT, 2011-2015 and
the Consultant in LIBRARY OPERATIONS STUDY, 2014
That Would Be Achieved With More Measure L Revenue include:
A robust, more up-to-date online catalog
Improved Book Collection
Expanded, Improved E-Book Collection
(currently basic subscription paid for by the Friends)

Online Suggestion and Feedback Forms

Reliable, stronger Wi-Fi Coverage
Development of e-collections (such as downloadable audio and video)
Upgrade, Replacement, and Increase in Quantity of Public (and Staff) PCs
(currently 1 workstation for every 1,000 residents)

Self-Service Technologies including 4 Self-Checkout Stations

Library IT Needs, Upgrades &

Improvements
Librarys ILS (integrated library system) moved to a vendor hosted server
to
be
added
WiFi coverage would be improved with another server

Patron PC workstations would be sped up with more bandwidth

Ability to send patrons email notices for fines owed, reserve pickups, and late
book reminders

Patrons would be able to pay fees with credit and debit cards via the website

More public PC workstations for adults, teens, and childrens rooms

Meeting room booking software with accessibility via website

Staff scheduling software

Scanner and color printer for the public

Opt-in capability for patrons for library announcements