COLUSA, CA (MPG) – Supporters of the Colusa County Free Library have begun taking their campaign into neighborhoods across the county, asking registered voters to sign petitions that could place a citizen-led library funding measure on the Nov. 3 General Election ballot.
During a volunteer kickoff meeting Monday, July 13, organizers distributed petitions, explained election rules and encouraged supporters to begin collecting signatures immediately. Their goal is to gather at least 500 valid signatures from registered Colusa County voters, although supporters hope to collect about 700 to account for signatures that may later be ruled invalid during the verification process.
Volunteers were encouraged to collect at least 20 signatures each by visiting neighborhoods, talking with friends and family and attending community events throughout the county. Petition circulators were asked to return completed petitions by July 20, with additional time available through July 23 if necessary.
Initiative proponents Erin Steidlmayer and Madison Martin told attendees the campaign is intended to preserve long-term funding for the county library through a voter-approved parcel tax while keeping local oversight of how the money is spent.
“This truly is a grassroots effort,” Steidlmayer told those gathered at the meeting. “We appreciate you guys being here so much.”
The petition seeks to place an initiative on the ballot that would establish an $85 annual special parcel tax dedicated exclusively to the Colusa County Free Library system. If approved by voters, the measure would require the county to continue contributing at least 75% of its 2025-26 General Fund support for library operations while revenue from the parcel tax would be deposited into a dedicated Library Services Fund that could only be used for library-related purposes.
According to the proposed ordinance, funds could be used for staffing, books and digital collections, literacy and educational programs, technology, outreach services, maintenance and other library operations. The measure also would establish an independent five-member citizens oversight committee to review annual revenues and expenditures and publish annual reports.
The proposal would allow the parcel tax to increase annually by no more than 3% based on changes in the California Consumer Price Index. It also includes provisions for operating and capital reserves to help stabilize funding during emergencies and replace library equipment and technology.
Supporters emphasized that signing the petition does not mean supporting the tax itself. Instead, they said, signing the petition simply gives voters the opportunity to decide the measure at the ballot box.
“This is bipartisan,” said DeeDee Cardoza, a volunteer. “This is just to get it on the ballot. It’s not yes or no for the whole initiative. It’s just to get us on the ballot to give the voters a chance to voice their concern or their approval or disapproval.”
The campaign follows weeks of discussion over how to provide stable funding for the library after the loss of approximately $500,000 in state funding that previously supported operations. According to initiative supporters, the funding loss resulted in staff reductions from 13 employees to seven and reduced library hours and services.
The citizen initiative differs from a proposal being developed by the Colusa County Board of Supervisors.
The county’s draft measure would establish a $145 annual parcel tax expected to generate about $2 million annually for library operations. Supervisors postponed action until Aug. 4 to allow time for the citizen initiative to move forward before deciding whether to place a county-sponsored measure on the November ballot.
While attendees broadly supported preserving library services, much of Monday’s discussion focused on how the proposed parcel tax would affect agricultural landowners.
Shannon Smith, a fourth-generation Arbuckle resident, said she supports the library but questioned how the initiative would affect farming operations made up of multiple noncontiguous parcels.
Smith noted that many family farms own land in different parts of the county because different crops grow better in different soils. Under the current language, only contiguous parcels under common ownership and used as a single operation could be assessed as one parcel. Farms with separate parcels could instead pay the tax on each parcel.
“I’d like to support it. I’d like to vote for it, but I cannot as long as it’s written this way where it’s only the contiguous ones that are exempt,” Smith said. She suggested the tax instead be applied only to parcels containing dwellings, arguing that agricultural landowners already face increasing costs associated with groundwater management and other regulations.
“It’s death by a thousand cuts with the ag taxes,” she said. “It’s something that I’m going to be fighting for myself and my child as much as to keep the libraries open.”
Smith said her concerns were not about the library itself but about ensuring agricultural families are not disproportionately affected by the parcel tax.
Another attendee echoed those concerns, saying their farming operation also consists of multiple separate parcels and asking whether exemptions or revisions could be considered. Steidlmayer acknowledged the issue and said discussions with agricultural representatives and county officials would continue as the signature campaign moves forward.
Questions also centered on what would happen if both the county proposal and the citizen initiative qualified for the ballot.
If the citizen initiative qualifies, supporters expect the Board of Supervisors to consider withdrawing the county-sponsored measure, although that decision ultimately rests with the board.
Colusa County Librarian Stacey Costello attended the meeting to answer questions about library operations but did not participate in discussions about the petition campaign.
Costello told attendees that if neither proposal ultimately passes, the library would continue operating at its current reduced level of service while its long-term funding remains uncertain.
Former Librarian Shares Funding Model
Retired Santa Clara County librarian Lani Yoshimura, now a Colusa County resident, shared her experience working in a library system that relies on dedicated voter-approved funding rather than annual county budget appropriations.
Yoshimura told attendees the Santa Clara County Library District is funded primarily through a dedicated property tax district. The system also receives revenue from voter-approved special assessments, local government partnerships and private donations. Some cities supplement library services through joint powers authorities that provide additional local funding for expanded hours and services.
According to the Santa Clara County Library District, voter-approved special taxes provide about 18% of the district’s annual revenue and were originally adopted to help offset significant reductions in state funding. The Santa Clara Library District also receives donations from local groups and individual supporters.
Drawing on that experience, Yoshimura said dedicated funding has allowed the Santa Clara County library system to focus on library services while providing greater financial stability over the long term.
“It was a very sensible system,” Yoshimura said.
How to Get Involved?
Supporters are continuing to recruit volunteers to help circulate petitions throughout Colusa County. Anyone interested in collecting signatures may contact initiative proponents Erin Steidlmayer at 530-902-1661 or Madison Martin at 530-774-5726, or visit Steidlmayer Law, 659 Jay St. in Colusa, during business hours to pick up petitions and receive instructions on proper signature gathering. The full text of the proposed ordinance and petition is available online by clicking here.
Campaign leaders also are preparing Spanish-language informational materials and encouraging supporters to attend the Aug. 4 Board of Supervisors meeting, where the future of both library funding proposals is expected to be discussed.
Documents & Information?