Study Suggests Breaking Up County Libraries : Budget: Cities would run some of the facilities. The report also says leaders should consider putting a special tax on the ballot.

Ventura County leaders should consider putting a special tax on the ballot or turning some libraries over to city governments to rescue the county’s financially strapped library system, according to a new report.

Facing a $38-million deficit this year, the county can no longer afford to subsidize its library system and must find other sources of funding, said county librarian Dixie D. Adeniran in a 22-page report to the Board of Supervisors.

“We’re really at a very crucial decision-making time,” Adeniran said.

State budget cuts have eliminated nearly 50% of county library funding since 1993. To make up for the lost revenue, the county has spent more than $2.4 million that had been set aside for other programs to subsidize the library system.

Nevertheless, the county’s Library Services Agency has been forced to cut operating hours in half at most of its branches.

“More money is needed to operate an adequate library service,” Adeniran said. “And just how to accomplish that is the key question. The answer depends on what people are willing to do.”

In her report, which she will present to supervisors Tuesday, Adeniran lists five funding options that center on establishing new taxes or forming several independent municipal libraries.

Persuading voters to support a sales tax or parcel tax could be extremely difficult if not impossible. Santa Paula residents last year approved a $25 parcel tax to help fund their community library, but only after three attempts on the ballot.

Before pursuing a tax option further, Adeniran said, the county would probably conduct a comprehensive survey of voters.

“We haven’t done any scientific polling up to this point and maybe that is something that we should consider doing next,” she said.

Adeniran noted that in the case of a special parcel tax election, voters in different parts of the county would have the option of establishing their own “library zones.” For instance, Simi Valley voters could elect to tax themselves to maintain library services, even if voters elsewhere rejected the tax.

Camarillo Mayor Michael Morgan said he does not believe voters in his city would support a library tax.

“I don’t think it would pass,” Morgan said. “It’s hard to keep taxing people when the price of properties keeps going up.”

Indeed, Supervisor John Flynn said he was adamantly opposed to a sales tax when the board approved the library funding study in February.

“I don’t want to commit myself in any way to the idea that I’m out raising the flag for a half-cent sales tax,” Flynn said at the time. “I’m not doing that. Period.”

The most viable option, Adeniran acknowledged, may be to break up the current county system and establish several independent municipal libraries. Under this proposal, the county would turn over some of its 16 libraries to cities. Cities would also receive the library property tax collected within their boundaries. The library agency serves seven county cities.

“The only reason to do this would be to provide a better level of service than is currently being provided,” Adeniran said. “And I think cities are going to have to take a hard look at what it’s going to cost them.”

Meanwhile, the county library agency faces more immediate funding problems. Adeniran said the agency needs $1.6 million to maintain its current level of service, which she already considers inadequate.

Even if the library agency received only half that amount, Adeniran said, it would be forced to shut down its adult and children’s literacy programs as well as seven of its smaller libraries in Ventura, Oak Park, Meiners Oaks, Oak View and Piru.

If the agency received no funding, it would have to close all of its libraries except its largest facilities in Camarillo, Simi Valley and Ventura.

As she did last year, Adeniran has already begun sending letters to cities and community groups around the county asking for financial assistance.

“I’m just as curious as anybody else to see how all this is going to play out,” she said.

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Library Funding Options General sales tax. Would be imposed on the entire county and range from one-eighth cent to one-half cent. In addition to libraries, revenue from this tax could be used for roads and parks. Requires approval from a majority of voters.

Special sales tax. Would be imposed on the entire county and range from one-eighth cent to one-half cent. Tax revenue could be used only for libraries. Requires approval from two-thirds of voters.

Special parcel tax. Would be imposed on county library service area only; $37 or $46 a parcel. Revenue could be used only for libraries. Requires a two-thirds vote for approval.

Special assessment. Board of Supervisors could vote to establish an assessment district for unincorporated areas only. Cities served by county library system could request inclusion. Revenue could be used only for libraries.

Establish independent municipal libraries. County turns over library property tax generated from within city boundaries to cities to operate their own libraries. County would continue to operate libraries in unincorporated areas.