Louisville Library District Up for November Vote
Lynn Blumenstein -- Library Journal, 10/17/2007
The fiscal support for the Louisville Free Public Library (LFPL) in Kentucky may change if voters on November 6 approve the formation of a library district, which would allow LFPL to operate as its own public agency, directly responsible to the taxpayers rather than to Jefferson County. Such autonomy would be funded by an additional two-tenths of 1 percent to the existing 2.2 percent occupational tax that all employees and business owners in Jefferson County pay. It would cost someone who earns $38,000 annually about $76. The tax—which would produce initially about $40 million a year—would allow the library system to greatly expand. It would fund three new regional branches; a new or renovated main branch; seven new neighborhood branches; and the expansion, renovation, or replacement of eight other branches. It also would pay for more materials, meeting spaces, and staff. Similar proposals were defeated in 1986 and 1991.The city of Louisville now provides the library with about $16.5 million a year. That money would be freed up for other services if the library tax is adopted. Opponents of the measure prefer that the city pay for the work by issuing $25 million in bonds each year for seven years, increasing the library’s budget by $1.5 million annually.
Clouding the issue is a recent accusation by two library staffers that administrators were actively advocating for the tax plan while on the job, according to coverage in the Louisville Courier-Journal. Cited as evidence are a series of emails between administrators and managers that the staffers, one former and one part-time, claim encourage staff to advocate the tax plan. Louisville mayor Jerry Abramson, who supports the funding plan, defended administrators, saying no laws were broken. The emails are now with the county attorney's office for review.
Talkback
Related Content
Related Content
Sponsored Links
