Jamestown Mayor Sam Teresi
JAMESTOWN – The James Prendergast Library is an extremely valuable asset for the community and the public should show its support for it by approving an $850,000 funding initiative in June.
That’s according to Jamestown Mayor Sam Teresi, who was a guest on this week’s Community Matters public affairs program on WRFA.
Teresi was asked his thoughts on the library’s proposed funding initiative and he said that if the library is to continue serving the public it will need the support of the community.
“I’m in support of anything that will allow that tremendous community treasure and asset to be able to stabilize its finances, to continue to provide the level and diversity of services that it provides on behalf of everybody regardless of age group and regardless of socioeconomic status in the community, regardless of where they reside in the city or outside the city,” Teresi said. “It would be a tragic loss to see irreparable damage to that operation and what it provides and means to the entire region.”
The funding initiative has been proposed by the library due to a decrease in other revenue sources in recent years, including recent reduction in aid from the city. Teresi said that unfortunately those cuts were necessary because city officials were out of options to consider when trying to keep spending in check, given the number of mandated expenses city government is required to cover.
“It was a tough decision over a period of the past five years to reduce the library’s funding [from the city] from $385,000 down to $350,000 but we had to do it,” Teresi explained. “It was very painful to make that cut because of the strong feelings that we have about a community asset and treasure like the library. Something needs to happen because that library – whether you step in it twice a year, 120 times a year, or not at all – is having an impact on the quality of life and the economic viability of this entire region.”
Teresi adds that in 2017 the city is facing $2.9 million budget gap, meaning that further cuts the library are possible – if not all together eliminated. Given the library has also seen a reduction in donations from the community, the mayor agrees with library officials that the funding initiative is an option the community must seriously consider if it wishes to continue allowing the library to serve as a community asset.
The funding initiative vote will take place on June 7 from noon to 9pm at the library. Anyone registered to vote in the Jamestown School District budget vote will also be eligible to vote on the funding initiative. If approved by residents, an $850,000 tax levy will be assessed to all taxable property in the city. That would equate to just under $60/year for a property assessed at $50,000.
Teresi’s interview will be rebroadcast on WRFA on Sunday, May 8 at noon. It will also be posted on WRFA’s website on Monday, May 9.
I am against this added tax. I feel the library has not done enough to raise money and there is no need for additional programs and staff to be added to the library. You go in the library and I have yet to see anyone say Can I help you. People do not want to help you and I do not want to support that kind of operation. This is a yearly tax and many people do not realize that. Why do not the people in Lakewood bear some of the costs? Vote against this on June 7th.
We are already taxed enough in Jamestown. Teresi supports it because he knows he has to cut the city’s 350k contribution to the Library next budget.
In 2016 the idea of a massive facility to house hundreds of thousands of paper books just doesn’t make sense to me. If the idea was to create some sort of “technology center” for the community I would be less opposed to the tax.
I will also be voting against this on June 7th.
I too will be voting against this tax. It should not be a yearly tax and the surrounding communities pay nothing but can use the libraries. It is not right. Furthermore the library wants to hire more help and start new programs. No. Get out and vote no.
how about figuring out a funding method that doesn’t once again target over taxed property owners. I am a big fan of having a well run public library system….First of all once again as in all of jamestown public jobs the figures once again point to over promising of retirement and health care benefits rather than utilizing volunteers and part time workers retired from other areas.Secondly;how about a yearly fee for instance on obtaining a library card so that EVERYONE using the library has some skin in the game.I would gladly pay my yearly fee for the privledge of using the system.I will not vote for this proposal and hope it gets voted down…..if this is another tax on property owners then only property owners should be voting!