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SAN JUAN ISLAND LIBRARY |
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Email this page to a friend Related pagesSan Juan Island Library Web site Previous columnsLove of books rekindled in Colorado Hard to let go of peace and quiet How Does That Book End Up On the Shelf? part II |
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Pink Cloud Turning Gray
posted 09/29/02
When I moved here, I was told over and over about the deep commitment of the community to supporting the public library, and it's true that we have a pretty terrific collection and range of services for a population of under 10,000. However, the passage of Initiative 747 last year limits our tax-based income to increases of 1% per year - and that doesn't take into account inflation of 3.9%, population growth of over 3% per year, or escalation in property values. The actual dollars coming to the library is going down each year. My projections indicate that between 2002 and 2010, the difference in tax income for the San Juan Island Library District as a result of 747 is a whopping $1.8 million. As state law stands, the only way for library districts to try to counteract some of these losses is to go to the voters and ask for a lid lift or other remedial measure. I am a taxpayer like everyone else, and I am not interested in paying higher taxes, but I think many people don't understand that our income is currently decreasing and a lid lift is an attempt to restore the taxing level to what it was previously. The climate indicated by the Orcas vote is not encouraging, to say the least. Luckily for us on San Juan Island, our financial situation is still good for another year or two as long as we are willing to dip into our reserve, and barring financial calamity or natural disaster. At that point, however, we will ask the voters for a lid lift, and if it fails, we will have to cut services, hours and staff just like the Orcas library is doing now. I hope it doesn't come to that. I really hate to say no.
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