When Massena Central School District voters go to the polls on May 21 to vote on the school district budget, there will also be a referendum for the Massena Public Library to switch to a Massena Central School District Library.  As a school district library, parts of Brasher, Louisville and Norfolk will become part of the tax base that supports the library.  Louisville property owners will pay the highest rate per $1,000 of assessed value (1.059221); Brasher (0.810006); Massena (0.839629) and Norfolk (0.997819).

Currently, the Massena Public Library is primarily funded by the Town of Massena and a $9,000 contribution by the Town of Louisville.  A tax levy at the rate of .057961 for the Public Library was included in the January 2024 Town of Louisville tax bill.  If the January 2024 assessed value of a Louisville property was $100,000, the Public Library tax should have been $14.49 ($100,000 divided by 1,000 X .057961).

Under the proposed new School District Library, the tax rate obligation for a Louisville property assessed at $100,000 will be $105.92 ($100,000 divided by 1,000 X 1.059221).  This is a six hundred thirty-one percent increase.  A 631% increase is not a reasonable or acceptable increase under any circumstance let alone when residents are struggling to pay their grocery bills, fill their gas tanks, buy a home, pay down credit card debt or pay automobile, home or health insurance policy premiums.

The 2024 Louisville equalization rate is 65%.  Louisville is scheduled for a complete reassessment in 2025.  Although we do not know what that will mean to Louisville property values, it is likely that the current assessed value will increase. If property assessments increase so does the library tax obligation.

Voters should be aware that any homeowner who does not pay school taxes now because they are Star Enhanced Exempt will be required to pay this new School District Library Tax.

Although I support the current $9,000 contribution by the Town of Louisville to the Massena Public Library, I cannot support the over six hundred percent tax increase to the majority of Louisville residents. I urge Louisville property owners to join me on May 21 and vote NO on the referendum for the Massena Public Library to switch to a Massena Central School District Library.  

Nancy Foster

Louisville