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Los Angeles County, CA March 8, 2011 Election
Charter Amendment LA-L
Reassignment of Funds for Library System
City of Los Angeles

Charter Amendment - Majority Approval Required
Official Results

Pass: 136,676 / 62.9% Yes votes ...... 80,740 / 37.1% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Information shown below: Summary | Fiscal Impact | Official Information | Impartial Analysis | Arguments |

Shall the Charter be amended to incrementally increase the amount the City is required to dedicate annually from its General Fund to the Library Department to an amount equal to .0300% of the assessed value of all property in the City, and incrementally increase the Library Department's responsibility for its direct and indirect costs until it pays for all of its direct and indirect costs, in order to provide Los Angeles neighborhood public libraries with additional funding to help restore library service hours, purchase books and support library programs, subject to audits, using existing funds with no new taxes?

Summary Prepared by Ballot Simplification Committee:
THE SITUATION:

Most City departments are funded by the General Fund. The Charter provides that the Library Department annually receive from the General Fund an amount not less than .0175% of the assessed value of all property in the City. This guarantees a minimum level of funding for Library services. Over time, costs of providing Library services have increased, but the guaranteed percentage of City funds for these services has remained constant. This has contributed to reductions in Library services.

THE PROPOSAL:

This measure would, over four years, increase the Library Department's guaranteed share of the City's assessed property values from .0175% to .0300%. This is a reallocation of General Fund revenue and not a new tax. This increase would help restore Library service hours and programs. This measure would also require the Library Department to pay for all direct and indirect costs necessary to support its programs and operations beginning July 1,2014.

A YES VOTE MEANS:

You want to increase the amount of funds guaranteed for Library services and require the Library to pay all of its direct and indirect costs.

A NO VOTE MEANS:

You do not want to increase the amount of funds guaranteed for Library services and require the Library to pay all of its direct and indirect costs.

Fiscal Impact from Miguel A. Santana
City Administrative Officer:
This measure would increase funding for the Los Angeles Public Library from 0.0175% to 0.0300% of the assessed value of all property in the City as assessed for City taxes. The increase will be implemented incrementally over four years. The additional funding could potentially help restore library service hours, purchase books, support library programs, and fund employee and other operational costs. By reallocating existing Property Tax revenue to the Library, the proposed Charter Amendment will reduce General Fund Revenue available to fund other City functions such as public safety and/or community services.

Official Sources of Information

Impartial Analysis from Gerry F. Miller
Chief Legislative Analyst
One of the primary sources of revenue to the City of Los Angeles' General Fund is the Property Tax. General Fund revenue is used to fund City services such as police, fire, libraries and parks.

The City Charter currently allocates "0.0175% of assessed value of all property in the City as assessed for City taxes" to the Library Department to maintain and operate the City of Los Angeles public library system. In simple terms, this means that the Library Department is currently guaranteed .0175% of Property Taxes the City receives annually. The .0175% allocation has remained constant while costs to operate and maintain the Library Department and its facilities have increased over time. This has contributed to reductions in Library service hours and funding for materials and programs.

This Charter amendment would, over a four year period, increase the Library Department's guaranteed share of the City's annual Property Tax revenue from the current .0175% to .0300%.

This Charter amendment would also require that the Library Department pay for all of its direct and indirect costs beginning on July 1, 2014. Direct and indirect costs are all necessary costs used to support the Library Department's operations and programs. Direct costs include such things as salaries and expenses for equipment and book purchases. Indirect costs include such things as employee health, dental, and pension costs; and building maintenance, security and utility costs. General Fund appropriations over and above the .0175% guaranteed allocation have been required for many years in order to pay for all of these costs. As a result, due to budget cuts, Library services have been reduced. Current projections show that by fiscal year 2014-15, the increased guaranteed percentage of Property Tax revenues should provide the Library Department with sufficient funding to pay for its direct and indirect costs and allow it to restore operations and service hours.

This Charter amendment does not impose a new tax. It will reallocate General Fund Property Tax revenue from other General Fund financed services to the Library Department. Consequently, the percentage of General Fund revenue available for other City services will be reduced.

This measure will become effective if approved by a majority of voters.

  Official Information

Los Angeles Public Library

Nonpartisan Information

Ballotpedia
Supporters

Save the Library
Librarians' Guild
AFSCME Local 2626
514 Shatto Pl., 3rd Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90020
librariansguild@hotmail.com

Yes on Measure L,
a Coalition of Library Advocates, Teachers, Librarians and Parents
777 S. Figueroa St., Suite 4050
Los Angeles, CA 90017
Major funding by the Library Foundation of Los Angeles.
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Arguments For Charter Amendment LA-L Arguments Against Charter Amendment LA-L
Yes on Measure L, "Public Library Funding Act," provides emergency funding to keep neighborhood libraries open, our kids safe, literacy and job placement help for job seekers, with no new taxes and strict fiscal accountability.

We cannot afford to wait any longer to provide emergency funding to our Los Angeles City libraries. State and City budget cuts have forced libraries to close their doors, cut vital services and reduce the number of qualified librarians. Without raising taxes, Measure L helps restore library hours, purchase books and sustain library services. Measure L is supported by neighborhood librarians, teachers and public safety, business, spiritual, elected and civic leaders.

KEEP CHILDREN SAFE

Los Angeles Public Libraries operate the city's largest after-school program, offering children a safe place to do their homework, keeping kids off the street and away from drugs and gangs.

HELP RESIDENTS FIND WORK

In these tough economic times, job seekers go to neighborhood libraries in the City of Los Angeles and work with librarians to use computers to apply for jobs, search for employment and take free classes in computer instruction, resume writing and job interviewing.

HELP NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS EDUCATE OUR KIDS

Severe budget cuts to school libraries and afterschool programs have elevated the importance of neighborhood libraries in our children's education. Measure L helps students succeed by providing access to library resources like tutoring programs, computers and books.

LIBRARIES ESPECIALLY BENEFIT SENIORS, FAMILIES AND THE BLIND

Libraries are important community centers that offer summer youth programs and special services for the blind and seniors. Measure L will help ensure that they continue to have access to these programs.

REQUIRES STRICT FISCAL ACCOUNTABILITY & TAXPAYER PROTECTIONS

  • Independent financial audits
  • All City budget expenditures are available on-line for public review
  • City and State officials are prohibited from raiding neighborhood library funding.

PERSONS SIGNING ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF CHARTER AMENDMENT L

BERNARD C. PARKS
Councilmember, 8th District
City of Los Angeles

TOM LABONGE
Councilmember, 4th District
City of Los Angeles

MARTIN GOMEZ
Los Angeles City Librarian
Los Angeles Public Libraries

FAYE WASHINGTON
Chief Executive Officer
YWCA of Greater Los Angeles

JEFF BROWN
Chairman
Library Foundation of Los Angeles

CHARLIE BECK
Chief of Police
Los Angeles Police Department

JAN PERRY
Council President Pro Tempore
City of Los Angeles

ERIC GARCETTI
Los Angeles City Council President
City of Los Angeles

TYREE WIEDER
President Emeritus
Los Angeles Valley College

VICTORIA MAGAW
Senior Librarian
Mid Valley Regional Branch Library

Rebuttal to Arguments For
This emergency was created by the City through years of overspending. The recession exposed the fact that City Hall has been living beyond its means, and, instead slapped us Library lovers with closures and reduced Library Services.

This measure simply moves more money from one pot to another. Common sense should tell us that puts other City Departments at risk of losing General Fund allocations during this economic downturn. We could see further service interruptions from:

  • Police
  • Fire
  • Recreation and Parks
  • Transportation
  • Street Services

Los Angeles City/County is GANG CAPITAL OF AMERICA-400 gangs and 41,000 members. LAPD has responsibility NOT THE LIBRARY.  Keep the LAPD working like the Mayor promises.

Help the Jobseekers; benefit the quality of life for all Seniors, Families, Children and Disabled by funding all Departments, not only Library.

VOTE NO. THE CITY HAS THE POWER TO RETURN FUNDING TO THE LIBRARY WITHOUT A BALLOT MEASURE.

PERSONS SIGNING REBUTTAL TO THE ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF CHARTER AMENDMENT L

JAMES O'SULLIVAN
President
FIXLOSANGELES.COM

PATRICIA MCPHERSON

JUANITA DELLOMES
LA Member
AARP

RON KAYE
Interim Chairman
LA CLEAN SWEEP

JOYCE DILLARD

Our City Library is like Mother and Apple Pie.

The Real Crisis At Hand is the Unfunded Pension Contributions and the City's Dire Financial Position.

The 1998 Library Bond proponents sold us:

"Give our Children a Place to Learn" "Improve the Quality of Life in All Our Communities throughout Our City."

In spite of the Mayor's Gang Reduction and Youth Development Zones, LAUSD had 181,903 truant students last school year.

The Library, partner in LACAN Los Angeles Computer Access Network, participated in the receipt of $7.6 million grant from the US Department of Commerce to expand public computer centers.

It makes no sense the Mayor and Council closed our libraries.

Hidden in the last two year's Library Budgets are Related Costs at levels 82% more than current Revenue:

  • Pension & Retirement
  • Health Resources Development
  • All Other Departments
  • Capital Improvements & Financing
  • Department of Water & Power
  • Building Services

Their answer is to increase the Charter appropriation from the General Fund without cutting other costs in the City. Then, the Library will pay back that same increase into the same General Fund. There is no guarantee the libraries will reopen.

This is the meaning of "using existing funds with no new taxes." A merry-go-round.

We demand accountability of all existing funds, on or off the Annual Financial Reports.

Identify those Departments that face funding cuts from this bait and switch scheme.

Parcel Tax is only 32% of the City's Revenue subject to Home and Commercial Property Value declines.

Identify the Sources of Revenue to maintain ALL Departments.

Identify Waste.

Find Government Efficiency.

We must hold:

  • Mayor accountable
  • City Council accountable
  • Board of Library Commissioners accountable

Stop this ballot box budgeting. It's just too dangerous for our future.

VOTE NO ON MEASURE L.

PERSONS SIGNING ARGUMENT AGAINST CHARTER AMENDMENT L

JOYCE DILLARD

JUANITA DELLOMES
LA Member
AARP

PETER GARCIA
Echo Park Business Association

VINCENT MONTALVO
Member Central Group
Sierra Club

JAMES O'SULLIVAN
President
Fixlosangeles.com

Rebuttal to Arguments Against
Opponents' arguments are false and misleading

A broad coalition of teachers, librarians, religious, public safety and civic leaders support Measure L.

Measure L requires:

  • Strict fiscal accountability
  • Independent financial audits
  • Neighborhood libraries receive a dedicated and consistent percentage of the city budget * No new taxes
  • No hidden expenditures- all budgets available online

Measure L provides the emergency funding Los Angeles Public Libraries need and reaffirms our commitment to fund these neighborhood libraries -- without raising taxes.

Severe budget cuts have forced libraries to reduce services to 5 days/week, reduced operating hours and eviscerated services families, job-seekers and seniors depend on.

Measure L restores library days and hours to provide:

  • Students opportunities to learn and succeed
  • A safe after-school environment for our youth free from gangs and drugs
  • Resources to help job-seekers land a job
  • Needed services for seniors and the blind

Vote YES to save our neighborhood libraries.

PERSONS SIGNING REBUTTAL TO THE ARGUMENT AGAINST CHARTER AMENDMENT L

BERNARD C. PARKS
Councilmember, 8th District
City of Los Angeles

TOM LABONGE
Councilmember, 4th District
City of Los Angeles

ROY STONE
Senior Librarian-Fairfax Branch
Los Angeles Public Library

RABBI JOHN ROSOVE
Rabbi
Temple Israel, Hollywood

DOLORES ANITA PATTON
Educator

RICHARD RIORDAN
Former Mayor, City of Los Angeles

MARIA CASILLAS
President
Families in School

LUPE CANALES
New York Times' Librarian of The Year
Los Angeles Public Libraries

PATRICK ISIDORO
Firefighter

ALICIA MOGUEL
Senior Librarian + Benjamin Franklin Branch
Los Angeles Public Libraries


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Created: September 13, 2011 11:10 PDT
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