Rumors that some Santa Clara County libraries might have to
close entirely if the budget is reduced even further by the state
property tax grab are premature, but officials said that the fact
that such reports were even circulating reflects the serious
difficulties of trying to operate a library while having to cut
hours, staff and new materials.
Rumors that some Santa Clara County libraries might have to close entirely if the budget is reduced even further by the state property tax grab are premature, but officials said that the fact that such reports were even circulating reflects the serious difficulties of trying to operate a library while having to cut hours, staff and new materials.
Both Morgan Hill City Librarian Nancy Howe and Santa Clara County Library System Head Librarian Melinda Cervantes deny that the loss of Measure B – the parcel tax extension – in the March 2 election, plus even deeper cuts in funds expected from the state, would force them to make that decision. But going on won’t be easy, both conceded.
Measure B received less than 62 percent of the 66.67 percent needed, though Morgan Hill voters turned in the third highest number of yes votes – 61.75 percent – of any city in the system, following only Los Altos and Los Altos Hills. The measure passed only in Los Altos, though Los Altos Hills missed by .04 percent. Gilroy was at the bottom with 56.60 percent.
“We have no plans to close libraries at this point,” said Cervantes. “The board has some other options (the Joint Powers Authority, the library system’s governing board).”
Howe is marking time, planning from what she knows now and dreading for other shoe to drop.
“We are waiting for the governor’s May revise (to the budget) next week,” Howe said Thursday. “If the magnitude goes up four-fold in the take-away, we would take an enormous hit.”
There is also the matter of libraries possibly being exempt from the property tax shift.
“I believe they are,” Cervantes said. That, too, will be decided in the coming weeks.
Gov. Schwarzenegger and the state Legislature are trying to find a way to close a $17 billion shortfall during 2004-05 and to get the budget approved on time by July 1, a move thought to be necessary to improve the state’s bottom-of-the-barrel bond rating with Wall Street financial analysts. The governor’s first pass at the budget in January was $99 billion.
Howe said she hasn’t had time yet to plan for bigger funding cuts. She has been occupied with working out how to keep the Morgan Hill Library open for even 30 hours a week, down from its current 54, with the 20 percent reduction in budget the post parcel tax reality will present. The $33.66 annual tax on property is due to expire in June 2005.
Voters declined to extend the tax for seven more years, increasing it by $8.34 to $42. As with all post-Prop. 13 taxes, a two-thirds majority was necessary.
Morgan Hill’s library is part of the Santa Clara County Library System which also includes Gilroy, Saratoga, Cupertino, Campbell, Monte Sereno and Milpitas.
It does not include Los Gatos, Mountain View, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Palo Alto or any library in San Jose.
Cervantes said she will have a better idea of what county libraries will face after the budget numbers are clearer but it’s not something she looks forward to.
“If the numbers are considerably worse than anticipated from the first proposed budget (January’s),” Cervantes said, “I will have to meet with each community about their needs, talk with the JPA and consider the best avenue.”
Cervantes said she will be in Sacramento this week to keep on top of the situation but realizes even the May revise won’t produce the final numbers.
“The budget still has to go to the Legislature,” she said.
Cervantes has presented the JPA with a $23.2 million budget, 12 percent less than 2003-04.
“It’s going to be a difficult couple of years,” Cervantes said. “This is a sad loss for a library system rated number one in the nation for its size.”
The JPA meets at 1:30 p.m. June 3, at the Campbell Library to adopt the library budget though, Cervantes, said, they may have to revisit the issue. She promised to tell the public what to expect soon after the June 3 meeting. JPA meetings are open to the public.
Details: www.santaclaracountylib.org
