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'Save Our Library' rally in Ogdensburg calls for voters to approve $225,000 increase in taxes

Posted 4/13/21

OGDENSBURG – Over two dozen people rallied Monday at City Hall, holding signs saying, “Save our Library. Vote Yes on May 18” in support of the Ogdensburg Public Library’s public referendum. …

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'Save Our Library' rally in Ogdensburg calls for voters to approve $225,000 increase in taxes

Posted

OGDENSBURG – Over two dozen people rallied Monday at City Hall, holding signs saying, “Save our Library. Vote Yes on May 18” in support of the Ogdensburg Public Library’s public referendum.

Due to budget cuts from the City of Ogdensburg, the library will be asking school district voters in May to approve an increase in taxes paid directly to the library.

“In the last five years, city funding has gone down from $500,000 to $162,000 for the 2021 budget. Next year there will be nothing in the city budget for operating funds. There will be nothing for salaries, books, computers, heat, or light,” said Linda Griffin, past president and library trustee.

Voters will be asked to approve a $225,000 increase in taxes paid by property owners in the library district, in addition to the $125,000 approved previously.

“The referendum gives the taxpayer a direct say in funding the library. The city won’t be the intermediary any more. It’s still a tax, but it goes directly to support the library,” said Griffin.

“The library is a community center. It is open and used by everybody and anybody,” said Library Director Penny Kerfien.

“Where else can you go that is free, safe, and informative?” said library staff member Julia Frazier Gebo. People who are new to the area and tourists come to the library for information, she said.

“The library offers so much for so many. I can’t picture a town without a library,” said Library Trustee Kathy Lawrence.

“If this referendum goes down, we will have to close the library unless some other solution comes along,” said Griffin.

The referendum vote for the Ogdensburg Public Library will be held at the same time as the school budget vote May 18.