Vote No on Issue 4 (Library) of $25 million
This information comes from the letters in the UA News, April 22- If a school levy fails, people lose jobs, children's education is strained and communities suffer. But the library levy is not one of those. It is an overpriced, ballooned request upon citizens in a challenging economic climate.
This is the third time the library tax has increased since 2001, and should it pass, UA taxpayers will be paying nearly five times what they paid to the library just 8 years ago.
Of the 3 plans presented to the library board, the most expesive was chosen, and added to.
Operating costs are not included in this request. Therefore, we can expect more down the road.
No library employees will lose their jobs if this levy fails.
Over half the UA library patrons live outside the city of UA and do not pay UA property tax.
One letter writer counted 18 chairs in the atrium, 4 in the video area, 3 being used. Saw children using study cubicles for coloring books. [Actually, I applaud the parent for bringing something to keep the children busy, rather than letting them run loose disturbing others.]
A $25 million dollar levy is over the top for unnecessary expansion. Most seats are vacant. There are a dozen DVD copies of the movie Elf. [And 15 copies of anti-Bush books, and every movie Michael Moore ever made.] Proponents arguments are not for literary or educational need, but for more free entertainment.
People are losing their jobs. Why gold plate the library? Does it really need a cafe, a gathering place, fireplaces--after an outcry these perks were removed, but do they think the taxpayers have forgotten? A $25 million levy goes far beyond "improvements" and is empire building.
If issue 4 passes, UA tax payments to the Library will rise from $996,000 in 2001 to almost $4.7 million annually.
Of the proposed 35,000 sq. ft. Tremont (main) expansion more than 1/3, 14,000 sq. ft. is for the library's staff/mechanical storage space, and the entire lower level will be off limits for patrons.
Two of the library's trustees voted against the levy, citing the bad economy.
Critical repairs are needed: the library has $3 million+ on hand for that.
Other details at changeinua.org.
The recent Miller Park (south of Lane Ave.) branch totaled about $1 million--administrators said no public funds would be used, but records show otherwise.
Residents opposed the "cafe" originally proposed; now it's called a vending area.
Advice from a resident: rein in tax increases, budget for necessary maintenance, prioritize services, heed board members Magill and Perera; be accountable to voters.
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1 comment:
The interesting thing about Ohio public libraries is that they get a large chunk of their funding off state income tax revenue. Such is a cut taken off the top before the rest is appropriated. Unfortunately that cut has gotten smaller as time has gone by. It is this cut that allows non-residents to still get library cards provided they are Ohio taxpayers or Ohio residents.
Getting property tax levies passed is kinda odd in Ohio. It is somewhat of a rare phenomenon. If that is the sort of construction being proposed, that is kinda excessive. Having libraries as a third space is one thing but that would functionally act as a bailout for local construction companies who might bid on the work.
As for the comment back at LISNews about apartments passing along property taxes, that's not universally true. If it were, my local library would not be in the financial woes it is right now. With as many apartment complexes we have in Henderson, the assessment rules are not the same as for single-family dwellings here. Las Vegas-Clark County Library District is in better shape since they can assess the properties on The Strip which have high values.
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