EDITORIAL : AGOURA HILLS: YES ON E.

A tiny Los Angeles County public library in Agoura Hills is providing for the city's 21,000 residents and for thousands of others who live in surrounding areas.

For years, it has been obvious that the crowded, 15,000-square-foot building and 27-space parking lot are inadequate for a community that has so many young families who place a premium on education, reading and libraries for their children.

If approved by a two-thirds majority of voters, Measure E on the Nov. 4 ballot will institute a parcel tax of $45 a year on all parcels of land in the city of Agoura Hills - residential and commercial, developed or undeveloped.

The levy will end after five years. In that period, officials expect it to raise almost $2 million. The use of those dollars will be strictly limited to acquisition, construction or lease of a library building, and operation and maintenance of it.

Critics say Measure E is unnecessary because a private developer has offered the city a free library as part of his project. But that's not a sure bet. The necessary trade-offs to get a ``free'' library might well be a bad deal for the public.

Measure E is a much more businesslike, straightforward way to achieve a desirable public goal. The Daily News recommends voting yes on Measure E.

MEASURE E AT A GLANCE

Here is a summary of Measure E on the Nov. 4 ballot in the city of Agoura Hills:

Library tax: Would create a parcel tax of $45 a year, applicable to all parcels in the city for a five-year period ending June 30, 2003. The revenues can be used only to acquire, build or lease a city library and to operate or maintain it. As a special tax, passage depends on approval by a two-thirds majority of voters.

The Daily News recommends: Yes

?Box: MEASURE E AT A GLANCE (See Text)

CAPTION(S):

Box