Troy Michigan Residents to Vote on Library Millage on Tuesday, August 2

Troy residents rally for, against library millage. (Oakland Press, 7/28/2011)

Excerpt: While opinions differed on the millage, all agreed that the library is a vital service to the community. Funding it, however, continues to stir debate.

The city is asking voters to approve a five-year, 0.7-mill tax. This is the city’s third attempt to levy an additional tax rate to keep the library open.

“At some point, it’s insulting,” said audience member Barbara Harrell before the town hall. Harrell does not support the millage and said it’s disrespectful for the city to continue pushing millages. “We all want the library; it’s a great value to the city, but I believe this is a manufactured crisis.”

Harrell, along with others who do not support the millage, say there is money in the general fund to keep the library running.

Panelists supporting the millage, including Troy Mayor Pro-Tem Mary Kerwin, said the city anticipates decreased funding in revenue sharing and taxable income, stating that the city cannot use monies from the rainy day fund for the library with the projected economic outlook.

She noted that other city services, including the aquatic center and parks, are able to generate additional funds, whereas the library’s only source is from fees and rentals, which doesn’t generate enough.

This is a door that some people want to open wider.

Related posts:
Patrons speak up for their library.  (7/24/2011)
Safeguarding American Families:  Vote yes to save Troy Library.  (7/14/2011)
Troy mayor is upbeat.  (7/14/2011)
Oakland Press editorial.  (7/14/2011)
Book burning listed on Detroit News events calendar.  (7/12/2011)
Troy Chamber supports millage request for library.  (7/10/2011)
A half-million dollar library collection up in flames?  Not gonna happen.  (7/9/2011)
I)s it just me or are things heating up in Troy Michigan?  (7/6/2011)
The battle lines are drawn.  (6/28/2011)
August 2nd a "This Is It" moment for the Troy Public Library..  (5/17/2011)
Working to keep the library open.  (5/10/2011)
Will there be a library after June 30th?  (4/20/2011)
Keep the Troy Public Library open:  Council members told to 'figure it out'.  (4/19/2011)
May Day!  May Day!  Two Michigan libraries set to close on May 1.  (4/17/2011)
Library to close on May 1.  (2/23/2011)
Troy Michigan (population: 80,000) still on track to close its library.  (2/8/2011)
Voters wave bye-bye to their library.  (11/3/2010)
Giving voters more choices than they need.  (8/13/2010)
Library threatened with closure, part 2.  (5/19/2010)
Library threatened with closure, part 1. &