Save JeffCo Libraries

I’m sure you have read the story in Friday’s Denver Post about the Denver Public Library (DPL): Denver library system suggests own tax district as it faces cuts

Earlier, I told you about the funding problems at the Los Angeles Public Library and how they solved the problem with a ballot initiative. One difference so far is that the City of Denver seems to recognize the need to protect the library’s future funding and is not openly fighting the idea of a library district – not yet anyway!

DPL has done a study of the impact on services if they continue on their current funding path and has concluded that they will either have to close seven to twelve branch libraries, or to cut all libraries to two or three days a week. That’s what would be necessary to make up for a revenue cut of about $2.5 million/year.

So far, the Jefferson County Public Library (JCPL) has not released a similar service cut plan, but the library’s budget projections look like they would have to cut a similar amount from the JCPL budget to make it through the next few years. In order to cut $2.5 million here, I guarantee they would have to close libraries.

This problem is flying under everybody’s radar, which is exactly why we have presented a citizens’ petition to create a library district here in Jefferson County. But in our case, the Commissioners are kicking and screaming because they don’t want to give up stealing the library’s mill levy – a levy we voted on in 1986 for library services only. So they’re using the County Attorney to intimidate us and suppress our petition.

We’re not giving up that easily. Paying taxes gives us some rights. With your help, we will protect the tax revenues we voted on and put the library back on solid financial footing.

Remember, as citizens and taxpayers we have our own remedies. Sometimes, it’s up to us!

Tom Atkins