In his letter to The Explorer, John suggests turning the library over to Pima County to avoid double taxation.
We would agree with John, unless the council sees fit to once again raid the contingency fund.
(Note: I'm being a bit sarcastic)
OV should give library to Pima County's district
From Feb. 4 through May 4, I served as an appointed member of the Oro Valley Library Public Library Review Task Group. I resigned as a member of that library committee effective May 4.
In FY2009-'10, Oro Valley taxpayers will be making a tax payment of $2.35 million for the Pima County Free Library Tax for the operation of the Pima County Free Library District, composed of 27 branches.
Eleven of these 27 branches were former City of Tucson library branches that were turned over to the PCLD in an intergovernmental agreement in 2006.
The Oro Valley Library is currently classified as an "affiliate" of the PCLD. This means the town needs to project a budget of $1.25 million in FY 2010 from the Oro Valley general fund to pay for the operation of the affiliate Oro Valley Public Library.
The Pima County Free Library District is projected to reimburse the Oro Valley General Fund only $626,284 of that town budget even though Oro Valley taxpayers will contribute $2.35 million to PCLD.
Oro Valley taxpayers must make tax payments to the Pima County Free Library District as required by law. The town expects taxpayers to also fund the operation of the Oro Valley Public Library "affiliate" status through its general fund. This is double taxation for Oro Valley taxpayers.
This leaves a budget "shortfall" to the Oro Valley taxpayers general fund of $625,122.
The town is facing an estimated $4.2 million budget deficit. The town is looking to cover the budget "shortfall" through a number of actions. One of these actions is a reduction of town jobs.
In my opinion, Oro Valley can no longer justify paying double taxation for the Oro Valley Public Library "affiliate" status from the general fund while cutting people's jobs.
In my opinion, the only viable option is to turn over the Oro Valley Public Library to the Pima County Free Library District.
The town council should start work to create an intergovernmental agreement to turn over the Oro Valley library to the Pima County Free Library District.
John Musolf,Oro Valley
3 comments:
I don't always agree with Mr. Musolf, on this I do agree.
I don't believe there has been the political will to take the heat from the Friends of the Library. Clearly this is the right thing to do.
The OV Libray staff would become county empoyees would be paid slightly less and have their benefits reduced.
As usual, John articulates and presents the facts clearly. The conclusion is obvious from the facts: Yes. Do give it to the County.
Why is it that such an obvious decision is taking so long to make?
Zee Man, I think the reason is FEAR.
Finding the political courage to vote in a way that is good for the town while knowing a lot of voters will be angry about the decision, takes guts.
The citizens have been mislead and believe services at the library will change. Walk into any county library and see if you can tell the difference.
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