As we move closer to the Nov. 4 election in California, we face not only a critical decision on the state level (read With Prop 50, Tahoe/Truckee Is on the Frontlines of California’s Redistricting Battle), there’s also the major local-level decision: building and supporting a new Truckee Library via Measure G.
Full disclosure: I shared my thoughts on this ballot in Moonshine Ink’s October edition; but I won’t hesitate to probe further into lingering questions our readers have. Friends of the Truckee Library’s executive director, April Cole, provides the following answers that dive into the details of creating the ballot question, outlining the communities that will pay into the pot, and more.
~ AH
Why did the Truckee Library Joint Powers Authority elect to finance the construction, purchase, etc. of the Truckee Library under the Mello-Roos Community Facilities Act of 1982 (as opposed to a town or county general fund, a special revenue stream like tourism tax, etc.)?
To accurately answer this question, it should first be clarified that Measure G and the proposed Mello-Roos bond will only partially fund the construction and maintenance of the new Truckee Regional Library. The remainder of the funding will come from private philanthropy, grants, and foundation support. You can read more about the full funding structure and more at votetruckeelibrary.com/faq.
The Truckee Library Joint Powers Authority (JPA) carefully explored many potential funding options over several months. Early planning and pre-construction work were supported with general funds from the Town of Truckee and Nevada County, totaling approximately $1.5 million, contributed equally by the two jurisdictions, alongside private donations from the Friends of the Truckee Library.
While general funds provided a critical foundation, they are not a sustainable source for a project of this scale. The library must compete annually with other essential priorities, including public safety, roads, and wildfire mitigation. Similarly, other funding mechanisms, such as ad valorem property taxes or tourism taxes, were either legally restricted or could not be dedicated solely to this project.
Creating a Community Facilities District (CFD) under the Mello-Roos Act provided the solution. The CFD allows the JPA to levy a special tax only on properties in the immediate Truckee Library service area, ensuring that everyone who benefits contributes equitably, regardless of county boundaries. Because funding for the library will come from properties in both Nevada County and Placer County, and few funding mechanisms provide the opportunity for a joint financing of public improvements by two counties, the CFD was the best option. General Obligation bonds and other general fund-secured bonds are specific to a single jurisdiction, and general obligation bonds are secured by a tax that has to be based on the assessed value of property which does not have any correlation to library usage. Because of the variability in a revenue stream generated by a tourism tax, transient occupancy tax, or sales tax, bonds secured by such revenues are sold when the available revenues are at least 125% of expected debt service on the bonds. Therefore, bonding capacity would be limited because of this increased coverage requirement and higher interest rate on such bonds, increasing cost to the taxpayer.
In addition to being the best legally viable option, the Mello-Roos CFD represents a model for multi-jurisdictional, regional collaboration, demonstrating how communities can work together across county lines to deliver shared public infrastructure.
In summary, after careful research and consideration of all available options, the Mello-Roos CFD provides the fairest, most reliable, and legally feasible funding mechanism for this community-led, regional project.
How was the Community Facilities District #1 formed? How many total properties are included in the bond measure?
Prior to formally establishing the Truckee Library Community Facilities District (CFD) #1 the Truckee Library JPA first identified the primary users of the Truckee Library. Because the library serves residents across Donner Summit, Truckee, Northstar, and Martis Valley, it was important that the CFD boundaries reflect the community of residents who directly benefit from the library.
The CFD was then formed pursuant to the Mello-Roos Act, which requires actions at two board meetings, as well as a public hearing. However, the levy of special taxes within the CFD is only authorized after a successful election, which is what is being presented to voters with Measure G.
The CFD boundaries are currently estimated to include almost 23,400 taxable parcels within both counties. The taxable parcels include more than 44 million square feet of building space.
If only those registered to vote in the community facilities district can vote on the measure, second homeowners registered elsewhere with their primary homes will still have the lien on their homes. Does this turn into taxation without representation? Please explain.
California State Law requires that local measures be approved by local registered voters. All eligible homeowners have the opportunity to participate in this election by registering to vote in the district if they choose.
Editor’s note: California Elections Code, Division 0.5, Chapter 4, §§ 349 and Division 2, Chapter 1, Article 2, §§ 2031 provide clarity in what qualifies as a registered voter’s primary residence.
What is the estimated net gain of the bond, to go toward funding the new library, compared to the overall cost (including interest) of the bond?
At an estimated 5.0% bond interest rate, the bond measure would generate approximately $16.6 million to build the new library. Over the 30-year term, the total repayment — including both principal and interest — would be about $36 million, assuming the bonds are not refinanced at a lower rate in the future.
This structure is typical for long-term public investments. Much like a 30-year home mortgage, where a $500,000 loan results in total payments of a little over $1 million, the interest simply reflects the cost of borrowing over time to make an important improvement today. The community gains the benefit of a new library right away, while the costs are spread out gradually and predictably over three decades.
Importantly, the interest cost does not change the maximum tax rate for property owners. Taxpayers will contribute no more than $0.03 per square foot of the taxable building — a rate that will not increase even as the bonds are repaid with interest. Because the total repayment is shared among more than 23,000 property owners, the impact for any one household remains modest: a typical Truckee homeowner would contribute roughly $5 per month.
Assuming Measure G passes, what are the jurisdictions (town and counties) expected to contribute financially, if anything, after the initial monies they pitched in?
Feasibility studies and extensive research have been conducted to identify opportunities within the private sector and through grant funding to help close the remaining funding gap. These efforts have confirmed that there is strong potential for success through a combination of private philanthropy and targeted grant opportunities.
That being said, the eligibility for many of these grants — and the willingness of private funders and foundations to contribute — is directly linked to the passage of Measure G. The measure is a key catalyst that demonstrates community commitment and project readiness, and it unlocks these additional funding opportunities.
There is already a strong level of community support for the project, reflected in early philanthropic engagement and enthusiasm from local partners through early contributions to the Friends of the Truckee Library’s LibraryUP capital campaign.
Assuming Measure G passes, the Friends of the Truckee Library will continue to lead efforts to close the remaining funding gap through the LibraryUP campaign. The Town of Truckee and counties have already provided essential early support, and future opportunities for collaboration or investment may be revisited as the project advances and funding strategies evolve.
What is the most valuable aspect you personally see the potential new Truckee Library adding to the community?
When it comes to this library, it’s not about what I think the community would benefit from — it’s about what the community has told us they need most. Over the past few years, through listening sessions, surveys, and advisory groups, thousands of residents have shared their priorities. And what we’re hearing is clear.
Teens have told us that a lot of cultural pressures in Truckee — like drug and alcohol use — are often worsened by the lack of free, safe spaces after school. While many students are involved in sports and outdoor activities, there are hours between school and practice where some teens have little to do and may make risky choices. Others don’t have structured activities at all. They want a safe, welcoming “third space” where they don’t have to spend money and where they can have ownership in the development of the space and the programming offered. The new teen space has been designed with their input, and programming will continue to be guided by the Teen Advisory Group.
Seniors want a space for social gatherings like book clubs, board games, and other community activities — but they don’t want it to be a space only for seniors. They want to feel included and connected to the broader community, interacting with people of all ages and staying visible and engaged in society.
Nonprofits have shared that they desperately need more space for meetings and a central hub to share information about their services. Right now, their ability to serve the community is limited by space. With the new library, they’ll have a place to connect with residents, communicate their impact, and expand the support they can provide.
Arts and culture advocates have emphasized the need for more performing arts and gallery space. There’s currently high demand for poetry readings, educational talks, film screenings, and performing arts rehearsals, but the few existing venues can’t accommodate it all. The new library will provide spaces with proper seating, lighting, acoustics, and AV capabilities to meet this need.
Families with young children have told us that storytime areas are regularly overflowing. The new library will create a larger, more comfortable space for early literacy programs, helping children and families connect and grow.
Remote workers have expressed the need for reliable internet and a welcoming work environment where they can focus without needing to pay for access, while still being part of the community around them.
And across the board, residents have told us they want a true community hub — a warm, welcoming space that fosters connection and strengthens our town as a whole.
And as for me, personally. How do I think the new library will impact our community? To answer this I want to share the defining impact libraries had on me growing up.
As a young girl, our family didn’t have much. My mom, juggling three jobs, worked tirelessly just to cover rent and food. There was rarely room for anything else. Growing up in that kind of scarcity is a quiet, heavy burden. You learn early what it feels like to go without. Yet, there was one place where that burden lifted, even if only for a few hours: the public library.
Every Friday, my mom would take my brother and me there. I’d wander the stacks, arms piled high with books, feeling an unfamiliar kind of freedom. In the library, it didn’t matter how much — or how little — you had. Everyone was equal. You didn’t need money to explore worlds beyond your own, or to sit and read for hours, lost in stories of triumph, adventure, and hope. For a few hours each week, I could imagine a life beyond our struggles, and that made all the difference.
The library didn’t just shape my childhood; it shaped my family’s future. My mom found resources for career guidance, studied for night classes, and even discovered a job posting that led to a career that lifted us out of poverty. All of that, right there at our public library. It was more than books — it was opportunity.
Our current Truckee library is small. It can’t fully offer the space and sanctuary that children in our community need, or the quiet corners for someone to study or pursue a new career. That’s why I’m so passionate about building this new space. I know firsthand the power a library can have to open doors, spark dreams, and lift families out of hardship. I want that for other kids and families in our community: to have a place where they can feel safe, equal, and empowered.
What excites me most about the new library is that it will be a beacon of hope. A place where opportunity isn’t just a dream, but something tangible. A place where a child from a home like mine can step inside and know, truly know, that their circumstances don’t define their future. This is why I care so deeply about this project—it’s more than a building. It’s a lifeline, a launchpad, and a promise to every member of our community. This is a library to meet today’s moment, that will support countless families now and will continue to do so for generations to come.
~ April Cole, executive director, Friends of the Truckee Library
