KEEP OUR LIBRARY!!! VOTE "NO" on the referendum this Tues., May 15th
Can it be possible that the Norwin community doesn't support the Norwin Public Library?!?!? Does Norwin really want the NPL to close its doors forever?!?!?
I DON'T BELIEVE IT.
But it could become a reality if voters don't get out and cast their vote this coming Tuesday, May 15th. Democrats, Republicans, AND INDEPENDENTS -- everyone registered to vote will have the right to vote on this referendum! The way it is worded, the referendum asks if you want to repeal the tax that supports and maintains the Library.
Referendum wording:
"Do you want to repeal 1 mill of the 1.2 mill Norwin Public Library tax on taxable real estate within the Norwin School District?"
The answer is NO! We don't want to repeal the tax that keeps our Library open!!!
According to Norwin business manager John Wilson, the average property owner in Norwin pays about $25 a year for the library tax. (Information taken from the December 13, 2006 Norwin Star article by Marina Takahashi, "Group still optimistic for repeal")
http://www.yournorwin.com/newspaper/article/69307/Group-still-optimistic...
Who could possibly want to lose this fabulous, state-of-the-art facility at the cost of LESS THAN A DIME A DAY PER HOUSEHOLD???
What sort of TAX LIABILITY would it be if it were to become a vacant building???
One by one we are losing our neighborhood elementary schools. Talk about losing value on our real estate! Look at the headaches Irwin Council and Norwin School District leaders continue to have, trying to solve the vacant building problems!
Let's not lose our Library, too! Let's not allow a few uncultured loud-mouths whining about $25/year cloud the reality of the issue: This Library ADDS value to our real estate!! If Mary Lou Patterson was one of the voters who signed the original petition to approve the library tax who thought "they were being taxed once to save the downtown Norwin Public Library on Third Street in Irwin," then it is her fault for signing the petition without reading and understanding it. (Quote taken from the December 13, 2006 Norwin Star article by Marina Takahashi, "Group still optimistic for repeal").
http://www.yournorwin.com/newspaper/article/69307/Group-still-optimistic...
Also, does Mary Lou Patterson think that $.07 cents per day is going to change anyone's lifestyle if the tax is repealed? Hmmm. Seven cents... seven cents will buy me... ... ... nothing! Hmmm. Seven cents times seven days... one week's worth of tax money for the Library... Whoopee! A grand total of forty-nine cents! I could buy... a pack of gum!!! Woo-hoo, let's party-hearty with that pack of gum!!!
Don't let the "Norwin Taxpayer Group" twist the facts or bully you into thinking Norwin doesn't need a library, or that $25 a year is going to lower your taxes noticeably. And certainly not for the trade-off of losing our Library. After all, it's not as though the $25 is going to be flushed down the toilet! It's keeping this PUBLIC LIBRARY open!!!
VOTE TUESDAY, MAY 15th. It is your Constitutional right! And it is your responsibility to help shape our community and make it all that it can be. Please don't just sit at home thinking your vote won't matter, because it does matter, and you can be proud of yourself for participating in this important decision.
For more details on the referendum, check out the May 9th Norwin Star article "Referendum about library tax put into plain English." In the printed newspaper, it's in the top-left corner on page A-4. Online, it's at
http://www.yournorwin.com/newspaper/article/78757/Referendum-about-libra...
And the Norwin Public Library website has more interesting reading about this issue:
http://norwinlibrary.nb.net/screens/information.html
~smr
- Su Russak's blog
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"Let's not allow a few uncultured loud-mouths whining about $25/year cloud the reality of the issue: This Library ADDS value to our real estate!!".....Wow just because one may oppose this TAX, does not make them uncultured. I watched Grease "you're the one that I want" and I am more enlightened then ever on the benefits of the"ARTS". Now for the Real facts. The current taxation is at a rate of 1.2mils. Which means that the statement "According to Norwin business manager John Wilson, the average property owner in Norwin pays about $25 a year for the library tax" would assume that the average assessed value of the Norwin homes is $20,833. If this is true, my recent purchase of my home was grossly overpriced. When you add up the Federal, State, and (Property) School/State/County/Municipality/LIBRARY taxes then you wonder why people eventually have had enough. I am all about paying a minimal usage fee to offset the loss in revenue, but to reduce the level of taxation that this area has blindly supported over the years has got to come to an end or the true property values will be at $20,833. Thanks for the opportunity to vocalize my issues.
Thanks for taking the time to debate this, Mac. Yours is probably the most articulate anti-tax discourse I've had on this issue thus far. Though I must question your classification of "Grease" as one of the more "cultural" examples of the arts... :)
But seriously, do you honestly think that repealing the library tax would be a good thing for this already culturally (IMO) sluggish area? Is it really "blindly supported"? Even if it is, is that a bad thing where this library and all it has to offer is concerned? Do you know how many libraries in SW PA are struggling to keep their doors open through funding and government grants? I apologize for not having statistics to quote at the moment -- I am on my way out the door (almost) as I type this -- I do know someone who works with the Monessen Library, and I've heard some financial horror stories. I will be venturing to share some of them here at some point in the near future.
Over simplified: I cannot see anything good coming of repealing the library tax for the Norwin Public Library. I do not see it as being "blindly" supported (at least not blindly on my part). A public library is an asset to any community, and Norwin's library is enviable in its size, diversity, and resources.
More later on this topic, I'm sure.
~smr
OK Su
I admit that Grease may not be the best example of my cultural prowess. For the record, of course I do not believe that closing a community asset is a positive thing. The reality is that this community which has a population (according to the Norwin Chamber of commerce) of 34,363, has a tax liability that is ludicrouas compared to the national average. I love having the wonderful parks, schools, and other local facilities that this community provides; but, there has to be some sense of discipline to the amount of taxation that our happy school district delivers to us every year. As for your statement "But seriously, do you honestly think that repealing the library tax would be a good thing for this already culturally (IMO) sluggish area?" you live within 30 minutes of one of the most culturally rewarding cities in the nation and with 19 world class Carnegie libraries available, I find it hard to believe that our library serving 34k+ can compete, nor should it compete, with those libraries. Our children have wonderful school libraries for their educational needs and I am not suggesting taking that away from them. Nor am I calling for the Norwin Library to close. But I do see a need to the reduce the mandated funding and rely more on the users of the facility to assist in the funding of this "cultural" asset. Thanks again
I'm sorry I haven't the time right now to delve deeper into this discussion. I do intend to offer a rebuttal in the future, only I'm afraid it might be after the primaries.
Repealing the library tax would be the beginning of the end for NPL. It would only be a matter of time before it closed due to lack of funds. The library tax ensures there will be money available to save our resource. To suggest that we commute to Pittsburgh libraries is not what having a community library is all about.
Pressed for time, I must close for now.
Thank you for the interesting feedback.
~smr