Property Tax Proposal Would Cover Library Capital Projects

The issue of how to finance much-needed improvements at the could be put in the hands of the voting public as soon as this spring.

At the recent meeting of the governing body, Council member Robert Catalanello proposed a library support tax of one cent per $100 valuation.

“That is half of the current Open Space tax,” he said in an email to Patch. “The goal is to raise enough to cover the capital budget request from the Library Trustees.”

The tax would raise $200,000 per year over the next four years to meet the estimated $800,000 in capital requirements for the library. 

The tax would sunset once the money is raised after four years.

Catalanello, who has been outspoken about plans for the library’s long-term financing, wants the Borough Council to begin discussions on a public referendum that would establish the library support tax.

At the meeting Council member Don Links said that he and Catalanello meet with three of the library trustees over the December holidays.

“We brought up the tax idea, and they were very interested,” Links said. “I believe that the people of Madison want to support the library. But, we want a conclusion because the library can’t wait forever.”

The library is confronted with a number of expensive issues. A multi-million dollar asbestos remediation project is needed, and water damage from last year’s storms points to larger problems with the building itself.

“We all support the library,” said Council President Jeannie Tsukamoto, at the meeting. “This a way to get the public to support he library as well.”

Tsukamoto said that as far as capital need are concerned, “I have heard a number as high as $2.2 million.”

Catalanello pointed out that his capital funding total does not include any large scale asbestos remediation.

Council member Carmela Vitale opined that the June election primary might not be best for a library referendum. “People don’t come out to vote [in the primaries]. “This needs to be worked on.  This is a tremendous amount of work.”
 
Mayor Robert Conley said he would formally bring the issue of the referendum to the library staff, and asked borough attorney Joseph Mezzacca to review potential legal issues.

“If we wait ‘til [the] November [general election], it will be 2013 before [the library’] gets any help,” said Links.