Libraries are fine, let’s fix what’s really broken

I am against the proposed library district being considered by the Boulder City Council. According to Councilman Bob Yates’ March Newsletter, the formation of the district would increase City of Boulder property taxes by 4.4%, raising about $19.5 million.

Here are a few other things I learned other things from Yates’ newsletter:

Apparently, this funding will be used to establish libraries in other towns. So, while the city of Boulder will make up about onetenth of the geography of the new district, Boulder residents and businesses could pay 80% of the costs.

Moreover, the city would donate the existing library buildings and books to the new district. Then, if the library district decided to sell a library branch — which they could do without the city’s consent — the city would have to buy back the same library building they originally gave to the district for free.

Unlike other taxing districts such as the Boulder Valley School District or the Regional Transit District, the board that would run the district would not be elected. We would not have a vote on what they decide to do in the future.

Raising taxes would add to the cost of living in Boulder. How much better it would be if the extra money went towards something that would make Boulder a place where our “essential workers” could afford to live. (You know, those people identified during the COVID pandemic as being essential to keeping our city going — waitstaff, grocery clerks, retail workers, teachers, health care workers, etc.?). Or the city could invest in solar farms, so we could do something that would impact climate change.

While it could be better, we already have a great library. If we’re going to raise taxes, let’s do something with the money that will actually make a difference.

— Pat Hood, Boulder