Assembly Approves Library Funding Bill : Legislation: The measure would permit local assessment districts, but requires voters’ approval of levies.

Los Angeles County library supporters heralded Assembly passage Tuesday of a bill to provide a new funding source for their struggling institutions. The bill, which goes back to the Senate for final legislative approval before heading to the governor’s desk, was adopted 45-24.

Library advocates said they will launch a new, aggressive phase of a months-long letter-writing campaign to persuade Gov. Pete Wilson to sign the bill into law. A similar measure last year produced an avalanche of supportive letters, but Wilson vetoed it.

The present bill, authored by state Sen. David A. Roberti (D-Van Nuys), permits local governments to set up special assessment districts for libraries.

Only after voter approval would the library districts be authorized to levy charges on property owners. A typical library service charge on a single residence in Los Angeles County would amount to at least $20 to $25 a year, said Bill Siverling, Los Angeles County legislative representative.

In his veto message last year, Wilson said he refused to sign the bill because the library assessment would have amounted to an involuntary tax increase.

But Roberti agreed to several changes that he believed addressed Wilson’s concerns. Among those was the requirement that the assessment district be put to the voters for approval.

A spokesman for Wilson said the governor has not decided whether to sign the current version.

Assemblywoman Betty Karnette (D-Long Beach), who led the effort for passage in the Assembly, said she believes public support exists for assessments.

According to the California State Library Assn., county libraries were among the hardest hit by the state’s 1993 property tax shift away from counties and special districts and toward schools. A survey showed that many large county libraries throughout the state suffered a 50% loss in funding due to the property tax shift.

In Los Angeles County, the shortfall in funding is expected to be around $32 million this year, with costs exceeding revenues by that amount, Siverling said. Ten county library outlets, including a bookmobile that serves the farflung Antelope Valley, have shut down in the past two years. Some branches that used to be open all week are now open only 14 hours a week over two days.

“We’re down to the point where there’s nothing left to cut,” said David Flint, the county’s assistant director for library finance.

In the meantime, while supporters await the outcome of the Roberti legislation, county officials have moved on another front in an attempt to obtain more funding.

The county library system--which serves 54 municipalities in addition to unincorporated areas--is inviting cities to join the county in a separate community facilities district.

Establishing a community facilities district allows the county to levy a library services charge to homeowners without an election. Under such a district, homeowners pay $28.50 a year for libraries in their cities or neighborhoods.

However, county officials prefer a countywide assessment district such as the Roberti bill allows, said Sandra Reuben, Los Angeles County’s head librarian.

Among the libraries considering the county’s community facilities district was the branch in the City of San Fernando, where city officials decided this week against joining. Instead, they opted to put the matter on the ballot for an advisory vote.

The City of Lancaster, on the other hand, approved joining the county in a community facilities district, said Reuben. It too, however, will put the issue on the ballot for an advisory vote.