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To the Editor:
The Putnam Valley Library is going to try again to get the 414 referendum passed this year after last year's failed attempt that had to be withdrawn because of substantial errors in their figures.
They will be coming around to your homes and businesses with their petitions to be signed so they can get it on the ballot for November’s election.
This referendum will be to increase their funding through our taxes and take the decision of how much is budgeted away from our elected Town Board.
They will be asking for $320,000 with a promise not to increase this for three years.
Our current allocated amount of our taxes through our Town Board is $292,222 for the library.
Although the increased number is important, the referendum itself is even more important and detrimental.
Taking the control and the decision of how much our taxes are and how they're spent away from our elected officials — the Town Board — is monumental.
We need the experience of the Town Board to watch over our hard earned tax dollars, not an unelected board where the taxpayers have no clue as to their background and experience with budgets and running a library.
Most importantly, the current board members will not consider having the Library Board be elected officials with the proper background and skills needed.
This leaves taxpayers with no accountability for our tax dollars.
If the referendum is passed and the Library Board decides how much of our taxes will go to the library’s budget, then that board should be vetted and elected by the taxpayers.
There will be a meeting at the at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 14 at the library.
I urge all of you, your neighbors and friends to attend.
Our voice and opinions must be heard.
We also should contact our Town Board members to insist that Town Supervisor Sam Oliverio recuse himself from any and all library issues because his fiancée is Pricilla Keresey, President of the Putnam Valley Library Board.
Do we put our faith, trust and taxpayer money in this self-appointed board?
Dan Vera, Putnam Valley’s Tax Payer Advocate
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