Save JeffCo Libraries

As you probably know (my blog of April 22), the Denver Public Library is having its own funding problems and is looking at becoming an independent library district.

Our situation here in Jefferson County is a bit different than Denver’s in that we already have a dedicated library property tax mill levy, so no new taxes are required. Well, let me rephrase that – the law and the 1986 Jeffco election ballot where we approved that tax both say that our tax levy is dedicated for the library only, but the Jeffco Commissioners have been using it as a source of funding for other County uses.

So as taxpayers and voters, in January we submitted a petition in accordance with the library law requesting the conversion of JCPL to a library district, funded by the same library mill levy we voted on twenty five years ago. Except as a district, the tax levy truly would be dedicated and removed from tampering by the Commissioners.

This week (May 26), the president of the board of trustees for the Denver Public Library Friends Foundation, Michael King, wrote a “My Turn” column in the Denver Post, advocating for district status in Denver. We very much agree with him that “Dedicated funding must be secured for our library”. That goes for Jeffco as well as Denver.

The Denver Friends Foundation took their turn. We need to take our turn. Please send an email to the County Commissioners and to the JCPL Library Board, telling them you support a library district to secure the financial stability and independence of the Library in Jeffco.

Remember, it’s up to us!

Tom Atkins

Click here to open an email to the Jeffco Commissioners. Tell them you support a library district. They can schedule it for an election or they can just do the right thing, save everybody the expense, and create it by resolution.

Suggested language:

Dear Commissioners Griffin, Rozier, and Odom:

I support the conversion of JCPL into a library district and I support the citizens’ petition submitted to you in January for that purpose. I urge you to avoid the unnecessary expense and adversity of an election and to create the library district by resolution now.

Sincerely,

Click here to open an email to the JCPL Library Board of Trustees. Tell the library board you support the library district and you want them to support the district.

Suggested language:

Dear Trustees Anna, Carney, Douglass, Elliott, Heinekamp, Hildreth, and Rockwell:

I support the conversion of JCPL into a library district and I support the citizens’ petition submitted to the Commissioners in January for that purpose. I believe the district is the only long-term solution that truly protects JCPL’s revenue and insulates it from the political environment. I urge you to join other Trustees in supporting the district.

Please keep up the good work in protecting the Library’s policies, funding, and independence.

Sincerely,

Here’s the column from today’s Post:

My Turn – The Denver Post, May 26 2011

By Michael King

Re: “Library funding needs context,” May 19 editorial.

A strong library system is strategically imperative for any great city’s economic and community development. The Denver Public Library changes lives: creating jobs through small business development; bridging the “digital divide” by empowering our workforce for the rigorous demands of today’s knowledge-based economy; enabling patrons to harness sophisticated technologies; and building communities across the city — all while investing in our future through child and adult literacy programs.

Several years of deep budget cuts have weakened our award-winning library, and the latest city shortfall will impose unacceptable cuts on the library system. The library could be forced to choose between closing up to 12 branches or slashing hours across the system until our already part-time branches are only open one or two days a week, reducing them to being libraries in name only.

Dedicated funding must be secured for our library. There are more than 50 library districts in Colorado. Contrary to The Denver Post’s editorial, library advocates have been diligently working with the city’s Structural Financial Task Force, the mayoral candidates and the City Council to be part of the overall solution to the budget deficit. With another $100 million in cuts looming, a library district mill levy of $56 a year on a $200,000 home would raise $38 million, making a significant down payment on the budget deficit and alleviating otherwise draconian cuts to other vital city services, such as safety and fire.

Our great city deserves better than part-time libraries, police and fire departments. Please join us for upcoming Library’s Community Budget meetings (denverlibrary.org/budget) to learn more.

Michael King is president of the board of trustees for the Denver Public Library Friends Foundation.