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Putnam Valley Library. You have to pass it to see what’s in it.
Our library in Putnam Valley will have a proposition on the Nov. 8 ballot.
It reads: “Shall the annual contribution of the town of Putnam Valley for the operating budget of the Putnam Valley Free Library be increased by $27,778.00 to the sum of $320,000 annually? Yes or No”.
This is a very misleading question and does not indicate exactly what the voters are voting for beside an almost 10 percent increase to the library’s budget.
What the voters are actually voting for is not only the almost 10 percent Increase but taking the decision on how much of our taxes are given to the library away from our elected Town Board and giving the decision to an un-elected Library Board.
Taxation without representation is what the Putnam Valley Free Library is putting on the ballot with their misleading question to the voters.
The proposition will make the library a Chapter 414 association library. The law that governs this type of library has no requirement for an elected board. In addition, only the ability to increase the library’s budget never decreases it.
If our economy gets worst or the library gets an increase of additional non-tax funding currently our Town Board can decrease the amount of our tax dollars are allocated to the library.
If you vote yes on Nov. 8 our allocated tax dollars can never be decreased, only increased by by an un-elected Library Board.
A direct quote from the library’s presentation: “Once the 414 passes the library will present the budget directly to the voters.”
You have to pass it to see what’s in it. Sound familiar?
Should we trust an un-elected board with our tax dollars?
Without an elected Library Board who decides how our tax dollars are spent, we have a situation of taxation without representation.
Vote no Nov. 8.
Dan Vera
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