The Library Tax

[Robin Garr]

The library vote went as a "Yes". Steve Beshear (D) and Jack Conway (D) beat their Republican opponents. No surprise at all there. The numbers are instructive, though. In the Governor and Attorney General races the Dems beat the Repubs 83% to 17%. That's a testament to the "blueness" of my precinct. However, in the library vote the "Yes" beat the "No" by a much slimmer margin of 56% to 44%. That's quite a difference and suggests, as I stated, that lots of my blue neighbors were against the tax increase alternative for the libraries and crossed over from what you might expect to be a blue vote.

I can't quibble with that analysis at all, Jay.

I think it's pretty clear that the tax fell for a variety of reasons.

First, there's no denying that there's a strong core of "red" in the community that's always been against a library tax, and that defeated one in the early 80s (I was the Louisville Times' lead reporter on that train wreck and remember it well), and another in 1991. A library tax has a hard row to hoe in this town, because a lot of people don't hold with taxes and don't hold with books and don't hold with paying taxes so other people can read.

Second, this tax wasn't well sold. The Gannettized CJ tried to sell it in the editorial pages but did so awkwardly, then managed to cover the debate in such a way as to give the organized opposition surprising weight. (In fairness, I did the same thing in 1983.

Third, the form of the proposal - although I personally had no problem with it - did in fact lend itself to a conspiracy analysis. "What are they going to do with all that money?"

Put it all together and you had a referendum that the reds hated and that the blues supported only unenthusiastically. And that, I think, is what the numbers show.

What does make me curious is this: Where is all the outrage over the arena - a gazillion bucks going to build an ugly building that will house a college sport for a dozen games a year, pushed through by a small group of unelected, powerful people without any real representation at all (but no new tax! ); or the bridge project, which is certainly needed, but again gets pushed through with limited public input on its details and costs and with considerable, boosterish hype from Gannett. (Remember the option that saved the Great Lawn but was "hidden" from the public?)

[quote="Robin Garr.[/quote]



What does make me curious is this: Where is all the outrage over the arena - a gazillion bucks going to build an ugly building that will house a college sport for a dozen games a year, pushed through by a small group of unelected, powerful people without any real representation at all (but no new tax! ); )[/quote]



If the arena had been presented to the voter I am firmly convinced it would have been voted down.

What I would like to see is this question on the ballot:

Should we build an arena @ x amount of dollars or should we spend the same amount on our library system.

You choose. Pick one.

I would say the library would win in a landslide.

If the arena had been presented to the voter I am firmly convinced it would have been voted down.

What I would like to see is this question on the ballot:

Should we build an arena @ x amount of dollars or should we spend the same amount on our library system.

You choose. Pick one.

I would say the library would win in a landslide.

I agree on both counts. I don't think the arena is nearly as popular among the community as it is amongst our politicians.

The difference, of course, is that the arena does generate revenues which can be applied to the bond issue. I agree it would win the vote, but they are such different animals I don't think the comparison is legitimate.

TP,
I do think that a strong library system is much more revenue producing in the long run. I also believe that taxpayers should have a vote on such big ticket items. We can agree to disagree as neither you or I have a vote.

That is another question altogether....What is the difference between a State and a Commonwealth when something comes up for a referendum...Is there a big difference at the Charter level that I don't know about?

[Robin Garr]

That is another question altogether....What is the difference between a State and a Commonwealth when something comes up for a referendum...Is there a big difference at the Charter level that I don't know about?

No difference at all ... it's strictly a matter of terminology.

However, each state has its own rules about the details of referendums (referenda?). In California, for instance, any citizen can start a petition drive and put any question on the ballot. They've had some really good ones, and they've had some really wacky ones. Most other states (including Kentucky) don't allow that. California also allows the recall (remember when they called back their governor?) Most other states would consider something like that an electrified third rail.

TP,
I do think that a strong library system is much more revenue producing in the long run. I also believe that taxpayers should have a vote on such big ticket items. We can agree to disagree as neither you or I have a vote.

Indeed! I don't disagree with you point - it's just hard to pay bonds without a direct and identifiable source of revenue ....

Abramson Puts In Hiring Freeze, Spending Cuts
Louisville's Mayor is firing a preemptive strike on what he believes is a projected budget shortfall for the Louisville Metro government.


http://www.beloblog.com/WHAS_Blogs/Poli ... reeze.html

Expected...This Mayor is not the mayor people have been suckered into voting for years. He is a great speaker...althought fill of balogna and half triths...but as a sp[ender of the cities money he is awfull...Maybe people will wake up in the next election.....Remember...New Libraries with no increase in taxes.....Guess He went to confession right after he made that comercial...

[Robin Garr]

Expected...This Mayor is not the mayor people have been suckered into voting for years. He is a great speaker...althought fill of balogna and half triths...but as a sp[ender of the cities money he is awfull...Maybe people will wake up in the next election.....Remember...New Libraries with no increase in taxes.....Guess He went to confession right after he made that comercial...

Coming from a man of your stature, Robert, this endorsement carries about as much weight as we might expect.

Thank You Very Much Thats means alot coming from you....Yup the great mayor with such a greta vision for the city just a year or so ago...now going broke....

I am a support of Abramson. I think he's been a good mayor.

I posted this news because I am sure that this was part of the library tax initiative. The campaign should have been more honest about it. I doubt that honesty would have paid off in more votes, however.

My fears have come true. I don't think we're going to see a library expansion in the near term. The floating of bonds has been made far more problematic with the Museum Plaza bond issue as well and the city budget is going to be in deficit. Where's the money coming from?

Health care costs are at the root of it, I suspect.

...The campaign should have been more honest about it...

You've hit on the reason that I was bothered by the whole thing. I felt we were being misled and the concept was a bait and switch to begin with. The Mayor's comments after the defeat confirmed my suspicion. I don't like to be lied to.

Hey, here's a thought: those of us in the old city of Louisville (includes you and me, Charles) pay 49.31 cents per $100.00 of assessed value in property taxes. Those outside the old City but in Jefferson County pay 12.55 cents per $100.

Aren't we all one big, happy "Metro" now? How about we have some equity in the taxation? Heck, I'll even agree to continue paying what I'm paying - just raise the property tax rate in the old County part of "Metro" and use the proceeds for libraries, arenas, tall buildings meant to assuage monstrous egos,...........whatever.

Yeah, yeah I know we in the old city have enhanced old-city services, but 4 times the tax??????????

Just like the mayor should be honest about the budget....His rep was in front of metro councel just a month ago saying the city budget looks fine...corporate taxes were down a bit but the occupational taxes were way up...meaning more people working....but just on Monday the mayor says we will have a budget shortfall...talking out of both ends again....