HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-01-25 - AGENDA REPORTS - SPECIAL LIBRARY TAX (2)Agenda Item: 12
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDA REPORT
CONSENT CALENDAR City Manager Approval
Item to be presented by:
DATE: January 25, 2011
SUBJECT: SPECIAL LIBRARY TAX
DEPARTMENT: Administrative Services
RECOMMENDED ACTION
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Darren Hernandez
City Council continue this item to the City Council meeting of May 10, 2011, to provide staff
and the City Council Ad -Hoc Library Committee additional time to research and analyze this
issue.
BACKGROUND
On June 3, 1997, the electorate of the Enhanced Service Area of the Los Angeles County Public
Library, which includes the City of Santa Clarita, by a vote of 70.00% in favor and 30.00%
opposed, and the electorate of the City of Santa Clarita, by a vote of 70.97% in favor and 29.03%
opposed, approved the special tax "dedicated exclusively to fund library services within the areas
which are subject to the tax." The initial authorized maximum amount of the special library tax
was established in 1997 at $22 per parcel of property. Each year thereafter, the maximum
amount of the special library tax has increased by 2%, or the percentage change in the California
Consumer Price Index (CCPI) for the prior fiscal year, whichever was less, resulting in a special
library tax rate that is now $27.84 per parcel; this is an increase of 26.5% over 13 years.
On January 11, 2011, the City Council directed staff to place on the agenda for January 25, 2011,
an item to consider calling a special election on the question of reducing the existing library
parcel tax that was approved by voters in 1997 by $8.84 a year for all properties, from $27.84 per
parcel to $19 per parcel. Following consultation with the City Council Ad -Hoc Library
Committee, staff recommends continuing this item to the City Council meeting of May 10, 2011.
This recommended continuance will provide staff additional time to research various fiscal and
budgetary issues related to this issue, such as the impact of the budget recently proposed by
Governor Brown and its possible impact on regional library programs, as well as the property tax
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revenue estimates for Fiscal Year 2011-12. In addition, this recommended continuance will
provide the City Council with additional time during which to discuss the issue of the special
library tax with the Santa Clarita community.
ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS
Other action as directed by the City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this recommended action.
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