The success or failure of a countywide ballot measure this May will determine if the Saratoga Library, and nine other libraries in the Santa Clara County Library system, will announce further budget cuts and hours or go back to their old schedule of operation.

At a meeting on Jan. 27, the system's Joint Powers Authority Board unanimously decided to ask voters to reinstate a 10-year-old parcel tax measure. Voters will make their decision through a mail-in ballot that goes out to residents starting April 4. The mail-in ballots are due at the County Registrar of Voter offices by 8 p.m. on May 3.

In the ballot, voters will be asked their opinion on two measures--A and B. Measure A asks for a 10-year reinstatement of a parcel tax that expires in June and costs a single-family home $33.66 per year. Measure B asks county residents for an additional $12 per year.

County Librarian Melinda Cervantes said that the success of Measure A would ensure the current level of service while Measure B's success would ensure restoration of hours and other services that have been cut.

Both measures require a two-thirds vote to pass. Measure B, however, can pass only if Measure A does.

"We have a lot of support. The JPA board liked the idea of renewing the tax for 10 years," Cervantes said.

She said that the library system had suffered an operational loss of $1.1 million due to increased costs this year. "We are looking at a $5.8 million deficit in the future," she said.

The library system has 40 less staff members than before, according to Cervantes. "Vacancies and retirements have not been filled."

A similar measure failed to get a two-thirds majority in March, 2004.

Dolly Barnes, librarian at the Saratoga Library, attributed the failure to bad timing.

"It was an unusual election. The governor recall was in full swing," she said. Cervantes said that the presidential primary last year also distracted attention from the ballot measure.

"It is very difficult to pass a two-thirds measure. For one person that votes no, you have to get two people to say yes," Cervantes said.

Timing might be the most crucial element when it comes to the ballot measure. Barnes and Cervantes are sure that they will have the attention of local residents this time around.

"There is a heightened sense of urgency. We will try to get the word across that the parcel tax is about to expire," Barnes said.

The Friends of Saratoga Libraries will be helping with the effort.

Bill McDonnal, membership chairman for the group, said that the campaign will kick off on Feb. 28.

"We have recruited about 150 volunteers. Many of the volunteers will be talking to residents on the phone," McDonnal said.

He said that the group will be partnering with schools and different ethnic communities in the area. "A lot of us will be putting in more than 40 hours a week," he said.

Information will also be available through the library websites and newsletters.

Cervantes said that asking voters for money was always a difficult decision. "If the state had not taken away so much in local tax dollars, we would not have to go to the voters," she said.

About 10 million items were checked out of the Santa Clara County libraries last year. The libraries have won several national awards in the past for services and operations.

The Saratoga Library employs 35 people now, the equivalent of 24 full time positions. Three positions have fallen vacant in the last year and have not been filled. "Our materials budget is 20 percent less than last year," Barnes said.

She said that she felt bad about the cuts.

"I feel bad, especially for the children. Public libraries are an educational resource. No one wants to see the library dark."

For more information about the library ballot measure, visit supportourlibraries.org.