Fair Allocation of Library Taxes?Did you know that Phoenix property owners pay taxes to the county library district, but the vast majority of those dollars support libraries in other communities? In 1986, the Legislature passed a law allowing creation of library districts with the power to levy property taxes to pay for libraries and library service. One year later, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors formed the Maricopa County Library District (MCLD). In the 1980s Maricopa County was mostly unincorporated but has evolved to be very urbanized. Many cities and towns in Maricopa County provide their own libraries and library services, but state law provides that taxes collected by library districts cannot be passed to cities and towns. The result is that city residents in Maricopa County pay the library tax but city libraries cannot directly use any of those revenues.
In 2008, Phoenix residents paid $6.7 million in property taxes into the MCLD. That same year, Phoenix received about $600,000 (less than 10% of contributions) in services or revenues from the MCLD: $435,189 in reciprocal borrowing revenue and $165,000 in online database support.
Phoenix residents’ contributions are approximately 32% of total revenues collected in Maricopa County through library district taxes. In the past 12 years, Phoenix residents have contributed more than $50 million to the MCLD.
Currently, the Phoenix Public Library and its branches serve a residential population of more than 1.5 million. The service population of unincorporated Maricopa County is less than 250,000.
Last year, Phoenix cut its library hours by 30%. This year, Phoenix is proposing to close up to six libraries in addition to other library service cuts.
SB 1373 county library districts; cities; taxes will allow a city or town to receive at least 75% of the library taxes its residents pay to a library district in Maricopa or Pima County for the city or town to use for its libraries. The library district would keep 25% of the library tax collected in cities and towns to use for district purposes. The bill would restore fairness and allow Phoenix libraries to stay open.
Right now the bill is languishing -- call your Senator today and ask that this bill get a hearing.
Shared Revenue Alert
It's been quiet so far as we watch for potential raids on city revenues, but now comes SB 1108: Technical Correction; Children (Sen. Russell Pearce, R – Mesa) which is scheduled to carry a “strike everything” amendment this Tuesday entitled "State Shared Revenues." The amendment isn't yet available on the Legislature's website, but the title is ominous. This bill will be heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee. We encourage you to remind your state legislators of the importance of shared revenues to cities and towns to be able to provide police and fire protection and other important services.
Increased Penalties for Graffiti Crimes
HB 2738: Criminal Damage; Classification (Rep. Anna Tovar, D – Tolleson), increases penalties for those convicted of graffiti crimes. The lower limit was $250, but this bill makes reckless damage of property in the amount of $1 to $999 a Class 1 misdemeanor. HB 2738 unanimously passed the House Judiciary Committee this week and must be approved by the Rules Committee before Third Read approval before the House. The City of Phoenix thanks Representative Tovar for sponsoring this important measure.
Source: P.L.A.N.
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