By a 2–1 margin, voters rejected an initiative by antitax crusaders to eliminate the Stevens County (Wash.) Rural Library District. Opponents objected to paying property taxes for services they don’t use—the seven-library network is funded by a 50-cent tax on every $1,000 of assessed property value—and the fact that the system is administered by unelected volunteers, the Seattle Times reported November 7.
Library Director Regan Robinson said her side won by convincing voters that the system’s 35,000-book collection and free Internet access were worth the tax. “There might be some unfair, too-high taxes out there, but this isn’t one of them,” she told the Times.
“The voters have spoken,” said initiative backer John Norling. “Maybe we didn’t get our message across, or maybe voters didn’t like our message. It’s a moot point now. We’re not going to pursue anything more.”
Despite controversy over sex-education titles at the Montgomery County (Tex.) Public Library, voters passed a $10-million library bond issue. Although the margin of victory was narrow—the proposal won by only 51.9%—library Director Jerilyn Williams told the Conroe Courier that “2% is as good as 20%.”
The Montgomery County Republican Leadership Council led a campaign to have the titles removed from the collection. An opposing group, Mainstream Montgomery County, accused the RLC of trying to sabotage the bond issue.
A state-by-state roundup of library referenda and other local ballot measures is scheduled for next week’s American Libraries Online.
Posted November 11, 2002.