Yes on Measure L
Measure L will lower the library tax for residents of El Dorado Hills and Cameron Park. If voters countywide approve this measure, Placerville area residents will be added to the parcel tax for the first time.
The approach taken by Friends of the Library, which is supporting Measure L is that there is one library system and there should be one tax.
The parcel tax proposed is $17.58 for each improved parcel and $8.78 for each unimproved parcel, $14.06 for each apartment and $1 for each time share. This tax sunsets in 15 years, but a 3 percent escalator is built into the tax to keep pace with increases in book and other expenses. The $1.6 million that this will raise will support all the branches and the main library, but will not cover administrative expenses, supporters say.
The overall library budget is $3.1 million and the county General Fund covers $1.3 million of that.
The current library tax voters approved for Georgetown and South Lake Tahoe branches is $17.58 with a 3 percent escalator and a 10-year sunset. For El Dorado Hills and Cameron Park branches the currently approved parcel tax is $25 with no escalator and no sunset. When those measure passed Placerville’s library zone supporting the main branch failed to pass by a handful of votes. The current parcel taxes generate $1.175 million for the branches.
Free libraries remain one of the most valuable government services and the most useful. There are more than 90,000 cards holders in El Dorado County who check out 900,000 items. A vigorous Friends of the Library group raises thousands of dollars to buy books. Many individuals finance magazine subscriptions.
The El Dorado County Free Library and its branches are the best deal around. We urge a yes vote on Measure L.
Mountain Democrat
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