2 of 4 communities agree to Springdale Library levy
Voters in two of four municipalities served by the Springdale Free Public Library said “yes” in Tuesday's primary election to enacting a property tax to fund the library.
Referendums to collect the 0.25-mill tax were narrowly approved in Cheswick and Springdale, according to unofficial Allegheny County election results with all precincts counted.
The tax was rejected in Harmar and Springdale Township.
Nearly 58 percent of Harmar voters opposed the tax.
One vote made the difference in Springdale Township — early results showed the measure passing by one vote; later it was shown as defeated by one vote.
The margin of approval was also close — six votes in Cheswick, and eight in Springdale.
With a light turnout expected, Jim Anderson, president of the library's board of directors, said he knew the outcome would be close. The board had been behind getting the referendum questions on the ballots.
The tax will go into effect Jan. 1, 2015.
For the average homeowner, it will add about $26 to the annual property tax bill in Cheswick, and about $20 in Springdale.
The annual cost would have been about $23 in Harmar and about $19 in Springdale Township.
Anderson said he was grateful for support from those who voted yes, but was disappointed about losing in Harmar.
Approval in all four municipalities was expected to raise about $181,000 for the library, with more than half, about $97,000, coming from Harmar alone.
The library's annual budget is about $140,000.
A library tax was also on Tuesday's ballot in Monroeville. There, voters resoundingly rejected a 1-mill tax to support the Monroeville Public Library. More than 4,500 votes were cast, with about 83 percent saying no.
“I thought they were being greedy,” Anderson said, noting that the Monroeville Republican and Democratic parties joined together in opposition.
“That sends a powerful message out there when the two parties get together to say, ‘No, we don't want this,'” he said.
“We're happy people voted,” Anderson said of the Lower Valley's referendum. “We don't hold any grudges for those who voted no. We're pleased for those who voted yes.
“Tonight, we consider this a blessing for the library.”
The library may net less than the tax will collect if other current funding is lost.
Anderson said he would not be surprised if the municipalities and the Allegheny Valley School District withdraw their annual contributions to the library, which total $14,750, according to the library.
The library's annual letter campaign and a fundraiser by the Friends of the Springdale Library, which together collect nearly $14,000, will stop. But its Road to Knowledge 5K race, which raised about $3,500, will continue, Anderson said.
Still, Anderson said the library will gain more than it is losing, and that pursuing the tax was worth it.
“Scratching our heads and wondering how we're going to keep the library going and how we're going to fund our programs has been maddening and very frustrating,” Anderson said. “We don't have to guess any more. We know the monies are there. It's so much easier now to go forth on a budget knowing you have money there and it's going to come in.”
Although some voters opposed to the tax said they believe the library is “passe” in the Internet age, or that homeowners on fixed incomes can't afford the tax, Anderson said most of the people he talked with at the polls, many of them seniors, were supportive.
“People were somewhat informed to make a decision,” he said. “I think we did our job in the end. We let people know. We were open. We were truthful. We ran a nice campaign.
“Win or lose, it was worth it because at least the people are aware of our situation,” Anderson said. “That was the main goal: to inform people — to let them know you have a beautiful library but it's struggling.”
Amanda Hart, 60, of Harmar said she was particularly intrigued by the library issue.
“Libraries are important to a community,” Hart said outside the Harmar Municipal Building minutes after voting. “They give kids who might not otherwise have it access to books, computers and the Internet.
“They give kids a place they can go to learn and keeps them off the streets.”
Ron Gruzak, 54, of Harmar, said he belongs to the Oakmont library. He said libraries are important in every community, especially when it comes to providing computer access because “a lot of times you can't do anything without a computer.”
“The library is a great thing,” he said.
Staff writer Emily Balser and freelance writer R.A. Monti contributed to this report. Brian C. Rittmeyer is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 724-226-4701 or brittmeyer@tribweb.com.
