At a Dec. 3 meeting, board members of the Library Joint Powers Authority approved putting Measure B on the March ballot, which would allow the creation of a Community Facilities District and an increase in the amount residents pay in parcel taxes for a seven-year period.

For residents living in single-family homes, taxes would increase from $33.66 to $42 a year. For owners of nonresidential retail spaces, taxes would increase from $84.15 to $105. Nonretail-business owners would have to pay an additional $63 beyond the current $252.45, while property owners of undevelopedland would need to put out an additional $2 beyond the current $6.52.

The measure, which is an extension of one passed with a 71 percent vote in 1994 and is set to expire in June 2005, will be one of several on the March 2004 ballot. Others are related to school funding and toll fees on Bay Area bridges.

According to Santa Clara County librarian Melinda Cervantes, the new parcel tax would add $1.4 million to the existing $5.3 million the library receives from Measure A, which accounts for approximately 21 percent of the library's funding. However, Cervantes added, "We have just this year lost $1.16 million."

"This means that without voter approval, all libraries within the county library system will suffer severe cutbacks," Cervantes said.

If the parcel tax is not passed, the Cupertino library could close for one or two days each week, have fewer books available, lose personnel, have outdated research materials and face reductions in services such as storytelling and after-school activities.

Terry Trumbull, campaign manager for the measure, admitted that he is a bit concerned that residents may be overwhelmed with the number of items on the ballot involving funding. However, he said that he is hopeful that residents will pull through.

According to a telephone survey conducted by Gene Bregman & Associates, 65 percent of residents throughout the county who participated in the study said that they would support an increase of $34 to the parcel tax for library purposes, while 72 percent of residents said they would agree to pay $50. In addition, the survey revealed that 86 percent of the residents questioned said having a "good public library system is extremely important."

Up until the actual election day, volunteers will be doing their part in bolstering support for the Cupertino library. They will be handing out fact sheets to passersby outside the Cupertino Library. They will also be collecting cards that residents can fill out indicating their support.

According to Trumbull, volunteers have gathered approximately 500 cards so far. In addition, 3,300 cards have been mailed to those who have been involved with previous library-funding measures.