Dsitrict?  Is that typo going to be on the final ballot?

Yep, $24 a year to pay to keep my libraries and parks going is a small price to pay. Please vote yes, people.

Chris, that's exactly my point.  This ballot makes it seem like we're signing up for a zillion dollar tax increase.  No one's going to vote for a library tax increase if they don't realize it's only two bucks a month.

So now, not only am I extremely pissed off that the library funding issue is subject to vote, I am extremely angry that this ballot doesn't spell out the two bucks a month thing. 

Claire and TimK, no one's going to vote for this unless it is spelled out what this costs.

Right on, Joel.

Parks and libraries would cost less than $5 per month for an average house valued at $158,000.  

City of Duluth Parks and Recreation Referendum Facts

Nick is right, the figure is $5 a month, not $2 month for a $158k home - there was some early confusion on that point and we have now confirmed that figure.  That $5 will pay for all of the Parks services for the city of Duluth - it will be a dedicated fund not in competition with police, fire, and street plowing into the future.  If it passes we will also be able to expand library hours at both of the branches to 5 days a week - a huge improvement.

The referendum language is dictated by state statute - we don't have flexibility to provide more descriptive language.  

This is a modest request.  In fact, the $2.6 million is approximately the amount of Duluth's Parks budget back in 2003 (which happens to be the last budget before LGA cuts started).  

I'm confident that the referendum will pass because people in Duluth support parks and libraries.  But it will only pass if supporters get out to vote and help encourage support for the question.

Does anyone have a website or something similar for online donations to the committee?  I looked for one but can't find a link or any information on the group.

Thanks

From http://www.duluthmn.gov/parks:

"The Parks and Recreation budget allocation would no longer be obtained from the City of Duluth's General Fund. Those funds could be allocated to keep our branch libraries open 5 days a week and expand hours at the main Public Library, thus allowing the Library to operate at full capacity. Both Parks and Recreation and the Duluth Public Library system will benefit."

Could be allocated?!? I am in support of better funding for the Parks and the Libraries, but I would like a guarantee that the funds "freed" by establishing the Parks Fund will be used for the Library and not redirected to some other need (though there are many). That is the way this referendum is being advertised after all.

Dan, it would if the Mayor was the final decision maker. He is not. The council has a lot to say as well. I would rather see Libraries as part of the referendum, so that the money cannot be "reallocated" in some other way (ie: fire. police, streets, etc - all also very worthy recipients of general fund allocations).

Nothing in the language of the referendum refers to the library directly. Hence my nervousness that this "freed up money" will eventually not go to the library system. 

I have lived in Duluth long enough to experience being told one thing and seeing something completely different materialize.

We had taxes for parks before. Where did they go?

You people just go ahead and do what you're going to do.

I guess you can blame Republicans for everything if you want to. To my way of thinking, a city that can expand the DECC, buy the Norshor, approve millions in bonds for Spirit Mountain, refurbish Enger Tower, build multiple skywalks, pave 100 miles of streets and pay Visit Duluth $1.5 million a year has no business asking its citizens to pay more for libraries.

I don't know why I keep posting comments. I don't get anything out of it other than irritation. I think I'll stop.

Tom, what???  Enger Tower brings in revenue? The library is free to use, but not the city streets???

What brings in revenue is the library.  It brings in my tax dollars, as I choose to live here in large part because of the excellent, top notch library system.  Many cities lack this essential service.  That's why I don't work and live in those cities.  Our city government has chosen to put the library system on the chopping block.  And with the most poorly worded, confusing ballot language I have ever seen, the city has practically guaranteed that a voter will see only 'THIS IS A PROPERTY TAX' and vote against it.

Ramos is right about one thing -- the city has its priorities seriously screwed up, budget wise.

@Tom, 
Some things the city asks its citizens to vote on. Other things the city just does. That's what offends me.

Why don't we keep the libraries fully staffed and open, and instead ask voters if they want to approve a new tax for Skywalk building?

Tom, libraries enhance our quality of life, they provide a venue for children to supplement their school education, people use the library's resources all the time, either for current jobs, projects, or to search for employment. I would argue that, yes, indirectly, libraries bring revenue into our local economy because people use it for work and for education.  And some libraries -- I think of Seattle and NYC, especially -- are tourist attractions in their own right. Our library could have been, if they'd built it to complement the Norman Chateau-esque architecture of the Depot, instead of housing it in that hideous monstrosity.

Duluth has had branch libraries for 99 years. We have found a way to fund more than one library in our city for a century. This has been a sensible decentralization in a city with as many distinct neighborhoods (and as long and narrow) as Duluth. For many years we had several neighborhood branches. The cost of the parks levy is real and will be difficult for some to manage, but the costs of reducing access a civic equalizer such as the public library will be real too.