Warning, this tax payer is severely overtaxed and thus somewhat grumpy.
I got into an argument with a room full of people recently, and nobody came to my aid. I’m not sure if I made my point during this conversation, but I’d like to think so. Probably not. This is an unpopular viewpoint, but somebody has to say it.
Here’s the deal. The question was about our local suburban library (community population > 50,000) adding on to their already heavy property taxes. I figured that I was already paying $200-$250/year and this increase will add another $200-$300 per year. We had previously voted down this issue – twice – and it was back on the ballot.
The library has a poor history. When I moved to Mentor in the 1980’s I was appalled at the poor library. Since childhood I’ve been a regular library patron. Starting with the Cleveland libraries (my local branch and the main library, downtown), then suburban libraries in the area when we moved, my university libraries, and a library in a distant suburban where I lived, I have a long history using libraries. To think that a large suburb would have so poor a facility and collection was a shock.
Yet when they wanted to drastically expand the facility quite a while back, I did not support it (the issue passed). I felt that there was no evidence that the library would improve (just the building, not the collection, management, etc.). This proved to be true for quite a while, at least. Eventually the collection came around, but the library still has a low end feel. For instance, it never joined the usual on-line alliances (it seems like every other area library is a member). With the recent defeat of the tax issues, the library hours were cut to an absurdly low level (I think it was 40 hours a week). The management lacked the creativity to find ways to keep it open. I think they were also trying to punish the tax payers.
So here are the library trustees who have a poor track record, and show contempt for the patrons (and they have a poor track record with employee relations too). They don’t deserve my support.
The argument was put to me that a library is simply an important community asset and if it isn’t good enough, it must be brought up to par by funding it with taxes. Otherwise, my property’s value will go down.
My rebuttal has two sides:
- There is no evidence that the library will improve by adding more money. They have not done well with what they have and have done a poor job of finding alternate sources of funds.
- My property value will recede because it is overtaxed.
The issue passed. I will pay $500 a year for this library. My property will not increase in value with this tax.
