Saving the library system

December 08, 2011 | Fairfield Daily Republic
A tax we can all support
by Kelvin Wade

Who wants to vote for taxes?

Hear me out. The Solano County Board of Supervisors recently voted to place renewing the eighth-cent library sales tax on the June 5, 2012 ballot. While we need to reauthorize the measure to keep our libraries strong, a strong anti-tax backlash may make passage difficult.

The eighth-cent sales tax, which generates more than $6 million a year and makes up almost a quarter of our library system’s budget, expires in 2014. We need to reauthorize the measure for another 16 years. Reauthorizing it takes no more money out of your pocket than you’re spending now.

Nearly half of the residents of Solano County weren’t here and don’t recall what the library system was like before the 1998 eighth-cent sales tax was passed with 68 percent of the vote. They don’t recall the impossibly short hours and meager new book and media purchases.

We have the chance to help keep a revenue pipeline open in economically shaky times.

Some people complain that since they don’t use the library, they shouldn’t have to pay for it. You find this same argument among homeowners with no children who balk at paying property taxes for schools.

Libraries benefit everyone. Of course there are books, CDs, magazines, movies and computers. I practically lived in the library researching my columns before the Internet took off. In addition to reader input, my brother Tony uses the unique resources of the library to look at old newspapers and files to write his “Back in the Day” column.

Also, think about how many people have become literate through the library’s Adult Literacy Program. Think of the immigrants who have learned English and have become citizens and have made our community stronger.

How many children have attended story time at our library systems? How many authors have inspired others to pursue their writing or whatever their passion is?

Many students use our libraries for homework and college prep work. This makes our communities better.

And then there are all of the events that are held in libraries. Many groups meet in library meeting rooms for a variety of things that benefit us all.

The library improves the quality of life in our community, whether you choose to use it or not.

The problem is there are going to be many tax measures on the ballot in 2012. Gov. Jerry Brown announced his own plan to raise taxes on those making more than $250,000 and bumping up the sales tax a half-cent. Five other groups are pushing their own tax-increase measures. The glut is sure to put cash-strapped voters in a negative mood.

And I can’t help but notice that next June will be the presidential primary election. The Republican nominee will probably be known by then, which could hurt turnout. Beyond that, the thought of a bunch of anti-tax conservative voters turning out doesn’t bode well for a sales-tax measure, even if the tax won’t be an increase.

We can’t afford a dismal turnout like this past November’s election because the measure requires a two-thirds vote. Remember that Rick Vaccaro won his council seat over Chuck Timm by less than a half of one percent. Your vote matters.

The measure’s slogan is “Promises Made, Promises Kept.” This money is earmarked for the library and hasn’t been and cannot be diverted for some other cause. This is the one tax measure on the ballot next year that takes no more money out of your pocket. We need this. Peace.
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ADDITIONAL NOTES: I hope this is one of those occasions where people can set aside ideology and understand that this is a tax worth keeping. An eighth of a penny. And we're already paying it. It's important to keep our libraries healthy. They help keep our community healthy. When I was a kid, I can remember going to the library. I'm talking about when I was in the first and second grade. When we moved to Fairfield, I remember going to the old library. It was kind of spooky but still it was a library. I love libraries. It's a small investment into something so rewarding.