A survey of 800 Contra Costa County, California, voters showed little support for a combined library and “quality of life” alternative tax measure proposed by county supervisors in August. So on September 21 the board revived its original plan for a one-eighth-of-a-cent tax, but scheduled it for the November 2000 ballot to avoid voter confusion with a statewide library measure in the March 2000 elections. It will be the county’s fourth attempt to pass a library funding measure since 1992.
The survey showed that 61.8% of voters supported the tax after they were told the money would be used for children’s reading programs, books, and increased library hours.
The San Francisco Chronicle reported September 22 that city officials in the county were surprised when the alternative measure delayed the board’s approval of a tax endorsed by all 19 cities after months of discussions. However, they praised the two supervisors who proposed it for dealing with the county’s growth problems in a creative way.
Posted September 27, 1999.