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Monday, May 20, 2013

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Albany library budget trails

Margin of 28 votes for spending plan that carried a 25 percent tax increase
Published 12:01 am, Wednesday, May 18, 2011

  • Bruce Christie of Albany selects books to check out on Tuesday, May 17, 2011, at the Albany Public Library in Albany, N.Y. Because he uses its services, Christie said he'll vote "yes" to support the Albany libraries. (Cindy Schultz / Times Union) Photo: Cindy Schultz
    Bruce Christie of Albany selects books to check out on Tuesday, May 17, 2011, at the Albany Public Library in Albany, N.Y. Because he uses its services, Christie said he'll vote "yes" to support the Albany libraries. (Cindy Schultz / Times Union)

 

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ALBANY -- An aggressive public relations campaign may not have been enough to save the Albany Public Library budget from the wrath of tax-weary voters, who appeared to have narrowly rejected the proposed $9.56 million spending plan and its 25 percent tax increase Tuesday.

With all districts counted, the unofficial tally showed the budget failing by just 28 votes, 3,490 to 3,462.

But library officials said they were hopeful that a recanvass of the voting machines Wednesday morning might reveal errors that would save the budget and spare them from deciding whether to seek a re-vote or accept deep cuts to library hours and staff.

"We'll take it from there," Dennis Gaffney, president of the library's board of trustees, said. "I can't say what we'll do afterwards."

The proposed tax increase -- which amounted to about $48 on a home assessed at $150,000 -- was driven mostly by the need for cash to run the library's five new and renovated branches, the last of which came on line last year.

While library officials sought to minimize the size of the increase in the context of the much larger tax bills residents pay to fund city government and schools, voters at the polls said they were furious at what they described as the mismanagement that allowed the library to drastically expand without adequately planning for the costs of running the new branches.

"The whole thing was smoke and mirrors -- and we fell for it again," said Maureen Wight, who was among many voters who said they split their support, voting for the school budget and against the library. "I think they lied to us."

"You can't say anything bad, philosophically, about libraries, but I simply cannot afford it," Wight said. "That doesn't mean I'm not in favor of a good community resource."

Another resident, Tom Conole, said it broke his heart to have to cast a vote against the libraries. "I support the library, but I thought this was a bit much," he said.

Conole described the library's explanation for its need for the tax increase as "disingenuous" -- a sentiment echoed by others throughout the day.

Others were more charitable.

Jeanne Finley said she might have stayed home completely if it weren't for her desire to support the library.

"Being a writer, I can't vote against the library," Finley said. "Something's working here in the city of Albany -- fabulous libraries."

If the recanvass fails to save the budget, trustees could seek another vote on an amended budget, or it could accept the defeat and roll this year's budget over to next year. Gaffney said doing so would require deep cuts to library services -- including closing all facilities on weekends -- and shedding staff.

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