I agree in principle to increasing library funding and for an independent library board however the library proposel as currently formatted will accomplish neither.

I am opposed and will vote no on the library referendum for two reasons.

First this is a tax hike disguised as a library enhancement issue. The money raised will go to the libraries, but the money that now goes to the libraries will be diverted to other functions, to truly enhance the libraries the County Council should continue to allocate and spend the amount currently budgeted for libraries on libraries. To add a library district tax and at the same time withdraw the current funding is a shell game and a poorly veiled tax increase.

Second the library board will be appointed not elected, this is an affront to the voters of the county. Given that this board will be appointed by the very people who are now underfunding the libraries and who are planning to use the library tax to free up money for other spending is wrong. There will not and can not be an independent library board if the board is unelected and beholden the very people who have currently control the libraries and have apparently underfunded the libraries in order to push through a library district that is just another tax. There should be a non partisan elected board of library trustees.

The library board should be elected and the Metro council should agree to continue the current level of funding to the libraries that is the way to have a world class library system. Otherwise it will be more of the same.

Question:
How should the library plan be reformulated?

Choices:
Continue current funding level from the county
An elected board