If there is no voice after starting the video, click on the symbol in the lower right hand corner of the video to increase the volume.
A week ago at the May 16, 2012 Library Trustee meeting, the library treasurer boasted that the town would be making an additional $50,000 payment to the library. He even tried to goad Trustee Wiatr to wager a bet as to whether the monies would be forthcoming from the town.
It is apparent now that discussions took place behind closed doors...discussions that appear to have resulted in three (3) of the five (5) town board members promising to turn over $50,000 of sales tax revenue to the library. Councilman Reynold's can even be heard on this video saying there was a "gentlemen's agreement".
As you listen to this video, keep in mind that the Library books have NEVER been audited and they have NEVER filed the required Annual Update Document with the State Comptroller's Office even though the Library Treasurer received a letter from the State Comptroller a couple of years ago requesting compliance with General Municipal Law Article 3 - Report of Financial Condition:
§ 30 (3) An annual report of financial transactions shall be made by the treasurer of each public library and library service system established pursuant to section two hundred fifty-five of the education law, each county vocational education board established pursuant to section eleven hundred one of the education law and each board of cooperative educational services established pursuant to section nineteen hundred fifty-eight of the education law.Keep in mind that over a million dollars is owed to the Consolidated Sewer District and the Police Fund still owes money due to interfund borrowings that took place during the Earle Reed administration.
On August 23, 2012, voters in the New Hartford Central School District will be asked to vote on a $ 996,975 library budget; more than double the taxes that are currently being collected to fund the library.
If the vote is favorable for the library to recharter as a school district library, it is projected to cost between $.55 to $.85 per thousand of assessed value in additional taxes on the 2013-14 school tax bill depending on where you live in the New Hartford School District. The total taxes will be based on your actual assessed value as STAR exemptions cannot be applied to other than school taxes.
Currently the town budget includes $400,000 to fund the library each year and those taxes are paid by everyone including the residents in the two villages.
With rechartering as a school district library, only residents in the New Hartford Central School District will be required to pay to fund the library.
8 comments:
I do not think it is fair for town residents who reside in the school district to support the total cost of running the town library.
Can someone please tell me who are our library trustees? How can we reach them to voice our disapproval?
Councilman Backman should be applauded for his concerns, however, the three town representatives who opted for a "gentlemen's" agreement should be tarred and feathered.
Who the hell is running the town? Who the hell are these library trustees that believe town residents are willing to pay $1,000,000 to run a library?
We are in a state of recession, however, we have a certain cast of characters who believe in spending the hard-earned monies of an aging community.
The current Library Trustees are:
Linda Romano, President
Richard Evans, Vice-President
Virginia Emmert, Secretary
Earl Cunningham, Treasurer
Les Cortright, Trustee
Mary Du Ross, Trustee
Kevin Kelly, Trustee
John Klein, Trustee
James Kirkpatrick, Trustee
Connie Stephens, Trustee
Edmund Wiatr Jr., Trustee
The only trustee who is willing to give out an email address is Edmund J. Wiatr, Jr.
The rest feel that their email address is private. The only way you can contact them is to either personally know them or you could leave a message at the library desk that they might respond to.
Mr. Wiatr's email address is:
ewiatrjr@roadrunner.com
He will respond to all emails and will see to it that your messages are delivered at the next library board meeting which is scheduled for June 20th at noon in Butler Hall.
When will the "elite" let the taxpayers know what is going on?
Holding a vote in August that will add to NHCS school tax bill is crazy. Must be they are hoping most people are on vacation!
Incredible!
Watch the video!!
Councilman Backman says they want to give their workers a ten per cent (10%) increase!!
They cry poverty, make a deal with the town board to get an additional $50,000 of sales tax money and they have the nerve to include a 10% pay raise for their workers in their plans?
These people are nuts!!
I am confused. If this gets voted down, what happens to the library? Does the town still give 400,000 to the library either way? And will this budget have to be voted on every year? Any thoughts?
Anonymous said...
I am confused. If this gets voted down, what happens to the library? Does the town still give 400,000 to the library either way? And will this budget have to be voted on every year? Any thoughts?
First of all, the library tax that is being voted on August 23, 2012 will not be collected until the 2013 school tax bills are out.
If the re-chartering is approved, the library will still be funded by the town for 2013; the amount of the funding will be determined at the town budget discussions this September-November.
If the library becomes a school library, only New Hartford Central School taxpayers will fund the library. We should also note that New Hartford Central School is paying for the vote that will be held in the library on August 23, 2012.
After the initial budget approval, the budget will only go for a referendum if the library trustees raise the amount to be collected. Otherwise, the budget will remain the same each year.
So, for example, the budget that is being voted on in August is now at $996,975 with a tax levy of $893,675. It will remain at that level unless the library board increases their budget.
If the library re-chartering is not approved by the voters in the NHCS District, the library remains a town library and the town board will set the amount given to the library in their annual budget that is adopted each November. Currently that amount is $400,000 a year paid by everyone in the Town of New Hartford including the two villages.
Also, if the library re-chartering is not approved, they always have the option of putting it up for another vote. However, a second vote will need to be paid for by the library.
From the NY State Library website: The Advantages of the School District Public Library Model
By re-chartering as a School District Public Library, a library may be able to expand its service area, resulting in an expansion of its tax base.
New Hartford Residents will be approving all future budgets by votes and can increase their funding by expanding their tax base to other communities. Go to the website and READ the facts. Be prov acted in finding out the details.
The Real Facts said...
From the NY State Library website: The Advantages of the School District Public Library Model
By re-chartering as a School District Public Library, a library may be able to expand its service area, resulting in an expansion of its tax base.
New Hartford Residents will be approving all future budgets by votes and can increase their funding by expanding their tax base to other communities.
Real Facts...
Here's some real facts...
What makes anyone believe that other communities want to pay for New Hartford Public Library?
And what makes some people in New Hartford believe they have to be the biggest and the the best?
If New Hartford Public Library thought this "idea" they have is so good for the taxpayers...
How come they haven't held any meetings, made any information public or given anyone a chance to ask questions?
How come the last meeting was at noon, the next meeting is at noon and there is no August meeting?
How come there have been no open committee meetings to plan this whole school district library fiasco?
How come???
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