Our local library district will have an issue on the ballot in November to increase their mill levy (our property taxes) for additional funding.  This is the THIRD TIME they have tried this – the previous two failed miserably.  For whatever reason, they just haven't figured out that residents don't support it.  I wrote this for the local YourHub section of the paper. 

The Rangeview Library District's spokesperson recently posted an article saying "library usage has increased" and that an argument saying that library usage has decreased was a "misconception."

I am curious as to what measure is this taken? I find that claim highly speculative and doubt it is based on what a normal person would think when reading it. For instance, 20 years ago, how many people within the library district regularly used the library as compared to the total population? Did one in five residents regularly use it? One in 10?

Now, what is the number for today using those same parameters? If one in 10 residents regularly used the library 20 years ago, I would bet it is more like one in twenty now. Whatever it was 20 years ago, the percentage is almost certainly smaller today.

I think the above standard is what anyone rational person would use when trying to determine if additional funding for an entity was required. In a nutshell, percentage wise, fewer people use the library today. Period.

Now, if the Rangeview Library District can post the statistics that prove otherwise, I will admit my error. Until then though, I will vigorously campaign against this measure.

Further, the revenue that the Rangeview library district takes in has increased! The library district receives in no small part its funding from property taxes. We are all keenly aware that there has been tremendous growth in the area and property values have done nothing but go higher. We see it every two years when we receive our tax assessment from Adams County. More houses and higher property values means more revenue for the library district in recent years.

Make no mistake, the income of the library district has actually increased over time! In researching my response I attempted to find the hard numbers to back this up but the library's website sadly doesn't seem to provide it. In fact, their "Who We Are" information hasn't been updated for years and I'll be danged if I can find any information about where they get their money from. Kind of odd for a publicly funded entity, especially one that wants more of my tax money!

So in the end, we have a publicly funded organization who services a smaller and smaller percentage of citizens each year with growing income. That isn't enough for them and oddly enough, after being rejected three times in the past, they are coming to the voters yet again for more money! Sorry, you can count me for a NO vote!