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Financial Overview

The County Library is primarily funded from a specified property tax district.  Individuals living in the unincorporated area and in the nine cities served by the County Library have a portion of their property tax designated for the County Library.  People living outside the district do not pay County Library taxes.

In addition to the property tax, district property is also assessed for enhanced service through a Community Facilities District.  Voters initially endorsed the assessment in 1994 and approved a special tax in 2005.  The special tax is intended to partially replace revenues lost by state legislated property tax shifts which caused losses in excess of 40 percent to the County Library.  The special tax provides about one-fourth of the County Library’s revenues.

Although most of the Library’s revenues come from property taxes there are other sources.  The State Library administers an annual per capita award that subsidizes a small portion of local library services throughout the state; they also provide funding for adult and family literacy services.  The Library also receives grants for programs such as adult literacy.  In addition, fines and fees contribute about 2% to the Library’s revenues.

Some cities choose to enhance local services by providing supplementary funding for Sunday/Monday hours.  Two cities have established a joint powers authority to provide additional library taxing power in their area for enhanced services.