By Bay City News Service
Early election returns in Solano County show initial support for
Measure L, which would extend a sales tax to support county libraries.
As of 9:30 p.m., only mail-in ballots had been tallied. Of the
37,220 vote-by-mail ballots counted so far, 29,800 voters -- or 80 percent --
were in favor of the parcel tax, which needs two-thirds approval to pass.
Those ballots were mailed or turned in before the election and do
not include ballots returned to polling places today or those cast at county
precincts.
The eighth-cent sales tax, which was originally approved by 68
percent of voters in 1998 as Measure B, has enabled libraries to restore
hours, purchase more books and materials -- such as CDs, DVDs and magazines
and newspapers -- and increase children's programs, according to proponents
of Measure L.
The sales tax revenue can only be used for public library
operations, programs and acquisitions.
The countywide measure would extend the tax for another 16 years.
Measure L would take effect Oct. 1, 2014, immediately after Measure B
expires.
Although the current sales tax does not expire for another two
years, the measure was put before voters now because otherwise, libraries
would have to pay the cost of a special election in 2013, as there are no
countywide elections next year.
In 2010, the sales tax generated more than $6 million for
libraries in the county.
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