Paying For Mt. Pleasant Library- Kidding Right?

acclaro:

I understand the meaning of your post. No one hates levies as much as I do. EVERYONE has their hand in our wallets with little return noticed by the contributor.

I would like to offer another perspective on this and please feel free to critique my response.

The Seniors levy passage only benefited those who use their facility and services. (as I have mentioned many times, I voted for it because we use the seniors handicapped van to take my wife to and from her doctor's appointments, but we have never used their facility). IE- we voted for the levy for selfish purposes. I can readily understand why you and many others voted against it for your reasons mentioned. The Senior Center levy is a small amount yearly compared to the school levy/property tax increases we see when they are approved.

I can also understand your thoughts on voting no on the library levy too. Again, the library levy, like the Seniors Levy is a small amount out of the wallet compared to the school levies and would be used by a small contingent of the population.

My point is related to how much "bang for the buck" are we getting from the Seniors Levy passage and now this library proposed levy........and then ask yourself how much "bang for the buck" have we and are we getting from the bond/school levy passages?

IMO, passing the Seniors Levy at least gave the older contingent in this city a place to go and to dine with friends and, in our case, is providing transportation for medical needs for my wife. I see some monetary return for the money spent here.

The Library gives all of us an opportunity to check out books, movies and music if we choose to use the service. I see some monetary return for that money spent as well.

HOWEVER, I DO NOT and have not in the past, seen any positive return on any bond levies, operational levies, emergency levies nor renewal levies to date as to any "bang for the buck" from the schools. IMO, all the money asked for and all the money given to this district in three decades, has been thrown down the drain as value added. I do not see the taxpaying people of Middletown getting ANYTHING for their property tax contribution in this district. A poor investment as to return for all of us.

The schools take a much larger amount out of our budgets than any senior or library money taken. And, I believe we are getting more for less from these two levies than any school levy so far.

IMO, any school levy is a much greater threat to a return on investment compared to these minor amounts asked for. JMO

The library system is asking for a renewal levy where the amount we are already paying won't be increased (unless your property value increased since the last evaluation), but they're going to be able to not just continue to operate the Middletown, Trenton and West Chester locations, but also open a fourth location in Monroe. Increased services and offerings to your patrons for no increased monies. Seems like one of the few cases where the ROI is a good value to the taxpayer. Public libraries are there to serve all of our residents regardless of age or demographic.

Defeating it would also reduce the entire library operating budget by 40%, not just stop an expansion. Hurts everyone, not just seniors.

The Monroe location being helpful for the residents at Mt. Pleasant also would be usable by all of Monroe's residents. 4300 library card holders live in Monroe. Not all of them at the retirement village.

That isn't an accurate representation of how the Midpointe Library Service District levy works. The taxes from that levy are collected from the property owners within the Midpointe Library System District throughout Butler County. That does include the city of Middletown, but also includes the City of Trenton, townships of West Chester, Liberty, Lemon, Madison, and Wayne, and already includes the City of Monroe. The residents of Monroe have already been funding the Midpointe library branches for many years. Like Mr. Presta I'm no fan of the general perceived attitude of Monroe towards it's northern neighbor, but in this instance the vitriol is misplaced.

Let's hope the intelligence of all the Midpointe Library System District voters will realize that defeating a renewal levy would cut operating funds for all of the library branches by 40%, essentially decimating them. Reduced days / hours of operation, reduction in staffing, less services provided, less new materials, etc. All to stop expansion of a branch into Monroe that will be mostly funded by a private donation. Clear example of cutting off one's nose to spite the face.