I encourage everyone to vote 'Yes' for the library referendum. Louisville's libraries contribute an enormous amount to Louisville's schoolchildren and adult learners; it provides valuable resources to parents and a great community center to neighborhood organizations and the elderly.

Business also rely on the libraries; large corporations use strong libraries and schools to make Louisville seem like an attractive location when they are recruiting, and small businesses rely on the databases and resources that the library provides to help them compete in the marketplace. Thousands and thousands of Louisvillians use the libraries everyday, and the services provided by the library cannot be made up for by bookstores (which only offer some of their services provided by libraries and which exclude the working poor and many children) or volunteer organizations (which don't have enough resources).

I have heard some criticize the referendum claiming that the library would be wasteful with its money. However, I invite you to look at the results that the Louisville Free Public Library has already achieved with its limited funds. The Louisville Libraries are some of the worst funded in the region, and in the whole country, but as a previous poster noted, they still provide great services. Despite a comparatively small budget, that gets smaller every year because of inflation, over the past decade the libraries have dramatically increased the number of people they serve. Moreover, the libraries have been able to adapt to the needs of a changing world with increased electronic resources and cutting edged outreach programs targeting everyone from young teenage audiences to older retires who need a gathering place in the community.

Other critics of the Library referendum have argued that Metro government should find a way to fund the libraries without raising taxes. However, not voting for the libraries to send a message to Metro Council is like cutting off your nose to spite your face. By defeating the referendum, you harm yourself by weakening a valuable community asset. Also, by defeating the referendum you are supporting the status qou by sending a message to Metro Council that they are doing a good job and that you don't want to setup a library district which would separate the library system from the oversight of the Council. The referendum would actually put money in the hands of the libraries who have been shown to spend their money wisely; so a vote against the libraries is like a vote for government waste.

It is true, that with the library system broken off from Metro government with its own tax support, the Council would have great discretion over the money that it used to spend on the libraries. But if you want to make the Council give that money back to you, or use it more wisely direct your attention to them, and don't punish the libraries who are not to blame. There are dozens of ways to make Metro government and Louisville better, but voting against the libraries is not one of them.

I was amazed that people voted down a library tax. The same people that voted for the lottery. Priorities I guess.

I'm not voting against the library, I'm voting against another tax. Also, the lottery is voluntary, you don't have to play. The wording on this occupational tax is so shady that it should not pass. It is intentionally worded so the voter does not immediately see it is a tax that will cost them thousands of dollars over the years.

I wish I had the opportunity to vote, but alas, I don't, I just get the pay the tax.

And here is what it will cost you... annually.... forever...

Annual Salary Additional Taxes
$25,000 $50
$38,000 $76
$50,000 $100
$75,000 $150
$100,000 $200
$125,000 $250
$150,000 $300
$175,000 $350
$200,000 $400