Library Parcel Tax To Go Before Marin Voters

MARIN COUNTY, CA — A library parcel tax will go before Marin voters later this year.

The Marin County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted to put renewing the tax on the Nov. 8 ballot.

The renewal measure would increase the parcel tax from $58 to $98 for nine years, with a senior exemption and Consumer Price Index adjustment not to exceed 3 percent annually.

The measure would provide approximately $4.7 million annually for Marin County Free Library programs and services including maintaining current library hours and 24/7 online access, enhancing reading programs, increasing print and digital collections, providing free internet access and computers and facility upgrades.

MCFL operates 10 branches, a Learning Bus and a bookmobile that provide resources to rural areas, farmers markets, and places where there is a concentration of older adults. It is part of the MARINet Consortium, a partnership with six other local libraries and two college campus libraries.

According to nearly 5,000 respondents to a community survey, Marin residents want extended branch hours of operation, more programs for adults and seniors, facility upgrades, and more staff.

“Our community survey speaks to the need of more from the library system,” MCFL Director Lana Adlawan said in a statement.

“Without the passage of the parcel tax measure and the increase, we will not be able to keep the status quo. That’s what we’re looking in the future to do – expand that status quo.”

Expenditures of tax revenues would be overseen by an independent citizens’ oversight committee similar to the one in place for the current Measure A.

To learn more about MCFL, visit here.