Financing Options
Proposed Capital Funding Methods (continued)
Fresno County General Purpose funds have been used for repair of existing
structures not development of new structures. -
Community Development Funds: This was a strong source of funds in the
1980's financing complete construction of Easton, San Joaquin, and Parlier.
The Bear Mountain Library and Activity was partially financed with CDBG
funds, and funds have been used for ADA renovation in the Central Library.
A small amount of CDBG funds is being be used for the Caruthers Library
project. The Library submits CDBG applications for County projects only.
Cities managing their own CDBG funds and have never submitted an application.
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Sales taxes may be approved by two thirds of voters at a rate of 0.125
or 0.25 percent for a period not to exceed 16 years. Such taxes may
be used for construction. The introduction of such a tax is not feasible
until operational funding is secured with the renewal of a sales tax
measure for the library, which currently provides 54% of the library's
operating funds.
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General Obligation Bond Measures: West Coast Libraries have used bonds
as a means to finance all or a significant portion of library construction.
The Mello-Roos Community Facilities Act of 1982 allows the issuance
of bonds for public libraries construction.
| LIBRARY | AMOUNT | NEW FACILITIES | EXPANDED RENOVATED FACILITIES | OTHER SOURCE | TOTAL FACILITIES |
| LOS ANGELES COUNTY | NONE | 3 built by City/district | Unavailable | Unavailable | 84 libraries and 4 bookmobiles |
| LOS ANGELES PUBLIC | $180 MILLION | 32 New | Unavailable | Some CDBG, gift |
75 libraries 5 bookmobiles |
| PORTLAND | $29 MILLION general bond | 2 | 13 | Unavailable | 16 libraries 2 bookmobiles |
| SAN DIEGO PUBLIC | $191.4 MILLION | 12 new 1 parking lot 1 New Central Library |
10 | Grants, developer fees, private donations | 33 libraries |
| SAN FRANCISCO | $106 MILLION | 5 New | 19 | Some Earthquake |
27 libraries 2 bookmobiles |
| SAN JOSE PUBLIC | $212 MILLION | 6 New | 14 | Unavailable | 18 libraries 1 bookmobile |
| SEATTLE | $196.4 MILLION | 3 New 1 New Central Library |
22 | Bond | 25 libraries and 4 bookmobiles |
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Details on several projects are instructive.
The San Diego plan most nearly matches Fresno's proposal. Total costs
of $312.3 million include $149.5 for the main library and $162.8 for
branch expansions and improvements. The plan is for ten years and includes
bond sales in 2004, 2006 and 2008. Bonds total $191.4 (includes interest)
and seventy-five percent of the funds to repay the bonds come from a
10.5% hotel room tax plus twenty percent from a lawsuit settlement against
tobacco companies. For the remainder $42.9 million will come from city
development agencies, $21.7 million from developer fees, $53.5 from
grants and private donations, $8.8 million from CDBG, $7.9 from other
municipal sources.-
In November 2001 Houston voters approved partial funding of $40 million
for a $260 million project involving four new branches and several renovations,
including the Central Library.
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Library Journal shows that 87% of funding for projects in 2001
came from local sources, with charitable contributions/gifts at 8%.
Federal and state funds totaled 5%. *7
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Other
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Public Facilities Fees. In 1991 procedures were set up for a public
facilities fee program. No action was taken beyond the study.
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Build a larger facility than needed at the current time and lease the
additional space to gain income.
*7 Fox, Bette-Lee, "The Building Buck Doesn't Stop Here", Library Journal, December 2002, p. 42.
