Proposed library tax levy increase postponed another year
August 1, 2018
Charlea Estes-Jones
After public backlash regarding seeking a property tax levy increase to support the Barry-Lawrence Regional Library, the decision was made to postpone the tax levy increase request until 2019. The library’s board voted and unanimously decided to wait until August or November 2019 to ask the public for additional tax money to increase operating funds for the library system.
Much of the controversy surrounding the proposed tax levy increase request, which was slated to go on the August or November ballot of this year, was the board declining an anonymous donor’s offer of $3 million for a new Monett Library branch if the board would move the library downtown. Multiple factors led the board to decline the offer, but the public comments led the board to reconsider some of the library’s goals before requesting a tax levy increase.
The board first requested a property tax levy increase in April 2016. However, Barry and Lawrence County voters both voted in opposition of the increase with only 41 percent of voters in favor. If the proposed levy had passed, it would have generated an additional $600,000 to run the ten branches.
Prior to the board deciding to ask voters for the levy increase again, the formation of a campaign committee to help evaluate the public’s pinion on the ballot initiative. Discussions turned heated following the board’s decision to turn down of the anonymous donor’s funds for a new branch.
The primary reasons the board gave for not accepting the donor’s offer included issues with parking and the location of downtown buildings being in a flood zone and creating unmanageable increases to the library’s insurance. The library also already owns property the new Monett branch could conceivably be built on.
The Barry-Lawrence Regional Library also has a policy to not accept donations with contingencies. Donations have to be given in good faith for the library to decide how they will be appropriated.
The board agreed to continue to listen to public opinion and input before requesting a property tax levy increase in 2019.
Charlea Estes-Jones
After public backlash regarding seeking a property tax levy increase to support the Barry-Lawrence Regional Library, the decision was made to postpone the tax levy increase request until 2019. The library’s board voted and unanimously decided to wait until August or November 2019 to ask the public for additional tax money to increase operating funds for the library system.
Much of the controversy surrounding the proposed tax levy increase request, which was slated to go on the August or November ballot of this year, was the board declining an anonymous donor’s offer of $3 million for a new Monett Library branch if the board would move the library downtown. Multiple factors led the board to decline the offer, but the public comments led the board to reconsider some of the library’s goals before requesting a tax levy increase.
The board first requested a property tax levy increase in April 2016. However, Barry and Lawrence County voters both voted in opposition of the increase with only 41 percent of voters in favor. If the proposed levy had passed, it would have generated an additional $600,000 to run the ten branches.
Prior to the board deciding to ask voters for the levy increase again, the formation of a campaign committee to help evaluate the public’s pinion on the ballot initiative. Discussions turned heated following the board’s decision to turn down of the anonymous donor’s funds for a new branch.
The primary reasons the board gave for not accepting the donor’s offer included issues with parking and the location of downtown buildings being in a flood zone and creating unmanageable increases to the library’s insurance. The library also already owns property the new Monett branch could conceivably be built on.
The Barry-Lawrence Regional Library also has a policy to not accept donations with contingencies. Donations have to be given in good faith for the library to decide how they will be appropriated.
The board agreed to continue to listen to public opinion and input before requesting a property tax levy increase in 2019.