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Bridgeport library tax on ballot

Connecticut Post
Published 12:19 pm, Saturday, October 31, 2009

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  • Dianne Cummings, of Bridgeport, does research for her human services studies at Springfield College in the reference department of the main Burroughs-Saden branch of the Bridgeport Public Library, in Bridgeport, Conn. on Oct. 28th, 2009. Photo: Ned Gerard / Connecticut Post
    Dianne Cummings, of Bridgeport, does research for her human services studies at Springfield College in the reference department of the main Burroughs-Saden branch of the Bridgeport Public Library, in Bridgeport, Conn. on Oct. 28th, 2009. Photo: Ned Gerard | Buy this photo

 

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BRIDGEPORT ---- City residents will have an opportunity to vote Tuesday on whether there should be a new 1-mill tax imposed to generate revenue exclusively for the city`s public library system.

The referendum will appear on the ballot.

It reads:

"Shall a 1-mill tax be levied to establish and maintain a free public library and reading room?"

The library now has a $4.8 million budget, which represents about 0.69 of a mill under the current tax rate. The city has a $500 million budget.

If the measure is approved, the library`s budget would increase to about $6.9 million, officials say.

A mill is the amount property owners pay in taxes for every $1,000 worth of assessed value.

City officials say the library system receives a number of "in kind" services from the city for free; most of these would presumably end if the measure, No. 2 on the ballot, passes.

Library officials and board members say their budgets have been sliding over the years, and that the 1-mill tax would, if nothing else, give the library system a dependable source of income.

Since the early 1990s, the library has operated more-or-less on allocations decided by the mayor and City Council, and these have been shrinking. And, with the mayor and the council controlling finances, the board`s authority to shape the direction of the library has shrunk to little more than caretaker status, library board members say.

Library staffers say that the physical plant is in bad shape. The roof of the Burroughs-Saden Library, the main branch, leaks. There`s also shabby carpeting everywhere and staff members are shifted from one branch to another to plug holes. Morale is low, they say.

But a number of City Council members oppose the idea, noting that it will ultimately result in a tax increase.

The Bridgeport Public Library board of directors dates back to 1881. It`s unusual in that members aren`t appointed by the mayor, but named by incumbent members.

 
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