What Will Measure L Money Buy for the Library?

The following table was provided to Benicia Patch by acting Finance Director Bill Zenoni and shows that over the past 13 years the Benicia Public Library has received over $7.4 million dollars in proceeds from the current sales tax that supports library programs and pays for library supplies. 

In 1998 Solano county voters passed Measure B with over 68 percent of voters supporting an eighth cent sales tax to support county libraries.  Collection of the tax began the following year.

According to Benicia Public Library Director Diane Smikahl the money supports every aspect of library operations from purchases of new books and media to after school programs; from book groups to English as a Second Language programs.

While support for Measure L appears to be widespread – the vote to put the measure on the ballot was supported by all five members of the Solano County Board of Supervisors- there is no organized opposition and there is no argument against the measure in the June 5, voters guide.

Expenditures by Month

for the past 24 months

                   Monthly Expenditures

May-10

                     $67,182.70

June-10

                     $57,586.72

July-10

                     $58,046.73

August-10

                     $71,900.58

September-10

                     $58,779.19

October-10

                     $59,485.06

November-10

                     $56,960.84

December-10

                     $68,157.16

January-11

                     $69,904.79

February-11

                     $58,599.03

March-11

                     $56,311.13

April-11

                     $59,796.88

May-11

                     $56,770.31

June-11

                     $57,796.01

July-11

                     $61,278.87

August-11

                     $53,309.94

September-11

                     $52,442.52

October-11

                     $52,119.52

November-11

                     $53,320.13

December-11

                     $63,052.83

January-12

                     $61,968.66

February-12

                     $58,420.94

March-12

                     $66,650.35

April-12

                     $64,297.52

                   $1,444,138.41

Total Expenditures 1999 through April 2012

$7,412,763

What is your favorite library program? Tell us in comments.

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If there’s something in this article you think should be corrected, or if something else is amiss, call editor JB Davis at 707-628-0051 or email him at benicia@patch.com.