Indianapolis Star Editorial: "Give library a fair share of tax"

Link to January 13 Indianapolis Star editorial.

Excerpt: By the numbers, the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library has done its part.

Caught in a perfect storm of falling property tax revenues and growing patronage, the system cut more than $2 million from its 2011 budget by laying off 37 employees, reducing service hours by 26 percent and subtracting $1 million in spending on books and materials.

Now, it's the Indiana General Assembly's turn. And the City-County Council's.

[snip]

If the state is going to bestow this local taxing power, it behooves local government and local residents to show interest. The City-County Council is expected to vote Jan. 24 on a resolution that would ask for the necessary change in state law. The grass-roots Sustainable Library Citizens Coalition plans a mass showing and "read-in" at the City-County Building for that meeting, and will hold a similar event Feb. 8 at the Statehouse.

Whatever the turnout for those actions may be, there is no discounting the wide demand and acute need for the library's diverse services. The state should free the county to do as other counties already do: dip into its own pocketbook to help out.

Related articles:
Sustainability in the form of a share of county income taxes.  (1/12/2011)
Township deals comes undone.  (1/8/2011)
Vote to restore library hours and rehire staff: Thanking God again in Wayne Township, Indiana.  (12/16/2010)
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ICMPL to lay off 37 employees.  (11/12/2010)
Cuts in library hours, materials budget.  (9/15/2010)
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