Editorials

<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   HAVE YOUR SAY Feel strongly about something? Share it with the community by writing a letter to the editor. You’ll need to include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) We reserve the right to edit letters, but if you keep yours to 250 words or less, we won’t ask you to shorten it. If your letter is published, please wait 30 days before submitting another. Send it to: E-mail: letters@heraldnet.com Mail: Letters section The Herald P.O. Box 930 Everett, WA 98206 Fax: 425-339-3458 Have a question about letters? Contact Carol MacPherson (cmacpherson@heraldnet.com or 425-339-3472).   Published: Friday, October 9, 2009 ENDORSEMENT / SNO-ISLE LIBRARIES LEVY Approve reasonable request It would be difficult to overstate the case for approving the Sno-Isle Libraries' reasonable and responsible levy request on the Nov. 3 ballot. The 21-library district, which serves about 656,000 residents in Snohomish and Island counties, is asking for a 9 cent increase per $1,000 of assessed home value, raising the rate from 31 cents to 40 cents. That's $18 a year more on a $200,000 home; $27 on a $300,000 home and $36 on a $400,000 home. The revenue pays for all operational costs for the 21 libraries and mobile service, including books, computers, online resources, library programs and staff. The proposal, which was not made lightly by Sno-Isle in this economy, reflects a balance between what library patrons want, need and expect, and what they are willing to pay for. Without the levy, the system faces a projected $2.5 million shortfall. The levy request reflects cuts to the budget that show administrators take seriously their fiscal responsibility while still providing an excellent library system. Toward that end, Sno-Isle has proposed two 2010 budgets — one that includes an approved levy and one that doesn't. If the levy is approved, Sno-Isle will also take the following steps to avoid cutting services in 2010: n A 3 percent salary reduction for the six highest-paid employees, plus the remainder of the senior administrators, for 2010. n Salary freeze for all other staff for 2010. n Replacement of the library computer system delayed until 2011. n Materials and equipment budget reductions. n Elimination of a number of vacant positions. n Elimination of the non-library program presenters' budget. Without the levy, those cuts will happen and the district will reduce operating hours in all libraries. The importance of a robust and healthy library system is incalculable. This is always true, but even more apparent in this dire economy, as more and more people make use of the many and varied services offered through Sno-Isle, from job-hunting resources to free family activities, not to mention the good old standbys of being able to check out books, videos and music. We urge you to stop by your community library if you haven't done so lately, to get a sense of all you get for your tax dollars. Visit Sno-Isle Libraries online at www.sno-isle.org to see all the ways information is accessible to library users, and all of the myriad services that are available. The levy will allow the good stewards of the Sno-Isle Libraries to continue to provide the outstanding services the public enjoys, and expects. Vote “yes.” READER COMMENTS Log in or register to post new comment | Log out It's not about 9 cents. The Directors at Sno-Isle Library system want us to make up a $2,500,000 shortfall in their budget for 2010. It looks like they kept spending like the Snohomish County building boom would go on forever. Now they want a 29 percent bump in their levy from you and me. Sno-Isle Libraries already get an automatic levy increase of 1% each year. Our fire departments, police departments, school districts and local governments do not. When local governments wrote their taxpayer funding, they weren't crafty enough to include an automatic levy increase. Once this $2.5 million tax hike is taken by Sno-Isle Libraries, it's money that will not be available for for local schools, community police and fire districts. There's only so much taxpayers will pay before they start voting down everything. The folks that run Sno-Isle know this. That's why they're rushing to the front of the line. Which is most important to your local community ... schools, fire, police or the library? OK, the next time your smoke alarm goes off in the night ... call the library. If our kids don't learn to read in school, how will they use the library? Unlike the Sno-Isle Libraries you and I can't tax our neighbors to pay our bills, but we can vote to spend our $2.5 million in additional taxes more responsibility for services that are truly vital for our communities. Go find your ballot right now and mark NO on Proposition 1. Robert Lowery | Oct 21, 2009 4:40 pm | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal Sno-Isle Library levy Asking for a tax increase during challenging economnic times may seem counter-intuitive yet no time more than now do we need the services of our local library. Library services go well beyond the lending of books. Libraries assist those seeking employment, help with filling out bureaucratic forms,provide early learningand parenting experiences, offer a place for teens to gather and learn, and help those learning English. Community libraries are fast becoming an active voice in the community, working with other local organizations to make the most of community resources by connecting citizens to library resources. Libraries are a vital part of the community and are accessible to all. Our communities need libraries now more than ever and deserve our support, even in "these tough economic times." Martha Dankers | Oct 11, 2009 7:22 pm | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal A completely REASONABLE request Thank you Herald for supporting the libraries. I pay taxes and I am happy to pay for services that benefit our communities as much as the libraries do. I also pay for the roads and other public services that we all use or may have need of at one time or another in our lives. My families budget is tight right now too but I have found that unlike the roads and other things I pay for, the libraries actually save me a ton of money. If those who are so unhappy about spending about $1.50 per month to support libraries checked out just one single book in a year, they would have their money's worth as well as given a great gift to their community. Thank you Herald and thank you libraries. Emma McAllister | Oct 9, 2009 8:16 pm | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal Important to keep libraries open In this time when so many cannot afford to purchase new materials (books, movies) or maintain wired access, it is more important than ever to get maximum benefit from the public investments of libraries --- in buildings, access to public computers, research expertise(librarians), and job search resources. The Sno-Isle Board and Administration minimized the levy, freezing salaries and reducing top salaries for the next year. I applaud them for their work. My budget is tight right now, but that means I use the library more and I know others are inccreasing visits as well to stretch resources and share materials. I will be voting yes on the Library levy. Lisa Utter | Oct 9, 2009 5:48 pm | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal Completely UNREASONABLE Request This is an unreasonable request because you are asking ME to shoulder the bill. Frankly, I decline the honor. Has it eluded you that economic times have long ago passed "hard" are now cruising by "desperate"? Your request for yet another bit of my earnings accompanies other worthy causes (road improvements, social service maintenance, emergency services), that want 'just a little bit" of what I earn". No. I prefer to be able to pay my mortgage, pay my utility bill, and buy gasoline. I don't care a bit for the library's financial situation. Let them deal with it themselves, not on my back. Veritas Splendor | Oct 9, 2009 11:53 am | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal

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