Goshen Public Library & Historical Society | 203 Main St Goshen, NY 10924 | Phone: 845.294.6606 | Fax: 845.294.7158 | RCLS Member
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The home stretch
By plnkh | January 31, 2008
We are heading into the home stretch regarding the vote on funding for the new building. Last week we began making public presentations to community groups. There is a wealth of information we can communicate, paring it down to a 15 - 20 minute presentation is a real challenge. We also have had requests for information that is not yet available. At present we are working on the estimated tax levy for the projected first year operating budget, and waiting for a few answers from DASNY regarding opportunities to pay down the debt service. New information will be made available on the web site once it is complete.
The downturn in the economy is actually a positive for public projects. Interest rates are at record lows, making it a good time to bond, and construction employment opportunities are welcome to many area employers. The maximum cost to the taxpayers for debt service on the new library, is still a small amount of money. A house in the school district, with a fair market value of $400,000 pays now pays a tax of $164 a year for library operations. Add to that $194 for debt service, and you have a tax levy of $358. Compare that to your total tax bill. In the village of Goshen that current $164 is about 2% of the total taxes. And the library provides a variety of services to benefit every man, woman and child who lives in the district.
If personal income is shrinking, the Library is a good investment because it offers a smorgasbord of educational, cultural, and recreational opportunities for all ages. (One resident was thrilled to discover that museum passes - good for a family of up to four-are now available, at no cost, at the Library. “It costs $25 to get into the Met!”)
So if you have to cut back on your Netflix subscription, or purchases from amazon.com, or attendance at movies, plays and concerts, the Library has something on offer to fill the gap. You pay your library tax once a year and you may use its services as heavily as you choose at no additional cost. Everyone gains when you share resources and the Library is your gateway to sharing the resources of other libraries in the region. As Anne Herbert stated in The Next Whole Earth Catalog, “Libraries will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no libraries. ..”
And Goshen’s present 90 year old library does not meet state standards for public libraries, is not ADA compliant, does not conform to current building codes, and is just plain too small, so the community is being asked to invest in a building to serve it for the 21st century. I hope you will become informed about the need. Read the background and details of the project provided on the web site. Look for the district wide mailing of a special edition of Reference Point devoted to the building in February. Then vote on March 12 at the Library.
Topics: Building |
