San Francisco Voters Approve Funding Measure
Lynn Blumenstein & Norman Oder -- Library Journal, 11/20/2007
In San Francisco, Proposition D, which would renew the Library Preservation Fund for 15 years, won a resounding 74 percent of the vote on November 6. The measure for the first time allows property tax revenues dedicated to the San Francisco Public Library (SFPL) to guarantee revenue bonds to finance library construction. The ambitious $106 million branch renovation program, approved by voters in 2000, is running out of money owing to soaring construction costs. Director Luis Herrera said in August that there is a shortfall of $45 million.Critics of the measure claimed the new construction bond component would threaten operating funds, but that didn’t sway many voters. Now SFPL will get an annual set-aside of funding and the city will be allowed to sell revenue bonds to built library facilities. The library will open two renovated branches early next year. Two other branches are under construction; the decade-long program will renovate or build 24 branch libraries.
“Clearly, San Franciscans have noted the benefits of the Library Preservation Fund, which has made a significant difference in library operations, and chose to renew it with an even wider margin of support than in 1994,” Herrera said. The campaign was sponsored and funded by Friends of the San Francisco Public Library.
