Measure M: Sonoma County Voters To Decide One-Eighth Cent Sales Tax For Libraries

Sonoma County voters on Nov. 4 will consider Measure M, a one-eighth cent sales tax for 10 years to restore and enhance library hours and services.

The measure needs two-thirds approval to pass.

Sonoma County Library Director Brett Lear said approval of Measure M will reopen the county’s libraries on Mondays and expand evening and weekend hours.

The regional library system serves 500,000 residents at 13 locations, including 11 full-service libraries and two rural stations. Approximately 2 million people visit the county’s libraries each year and check out more than 3.5 million books, DVDs, audio books and e-books, Lear said.

More than 60,000 children attend story times, events and education classes annually, he said. Lear said 98 percent of library funding comes from property taxes and property tax revenue for the libraries declined during the Great Recession.

During that time, operating hours were reduced 25 percent, employees took unpaid furloughs, benefits were reduced and staff vacancies went unfilled, Lear said.

The 10-year life of the tax will allow the library system to find additional sources of revenue from community organizations and the private sector, Lear said.

--Bay City News

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