Vote Tuesday on Guilderland Library expansion with tax increase

Posted at: 06/25/2012 5:11 PM | Updated at: 06/25/2012 7:17 PM
By: Bill Lambdin

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GUILDERLAND - In addition to the library's news letter touting the advantages of building expansion, five different mailings have been sent by the library foundation, all advocating a yes vote in Tuesday's balloting.

"I would reject, personally, the notion that if we're going to build a public building it should be a Quonset Hut and just have functionality with nothing that's attractive about it," said Library Foundation attorney Robert Ganz.

Former Town Councilman Mark Grimm planned to robo-call some district residents, advocating against the expansion.

There was another robo-call also urging a no vote.

"It's just not prudent and I think most people feel that way once they hear the whole story," said Grimm.

The library says a taxpayer with a 200-thousand dollar home would pay an additional 55 dollars per year for the next 20 years to cover the expansion.

Grimm says an average Guilderland taxpayer would foot an additional 69 dollars per year for the next 20 years, plus added operational costs to be determined.

"Frozen salaries for state workers, frozen salaries for town workers, cuts in the High School 9th Grade sports program," said Grimm. "So everywhere you look they're cutting and (the library) wants to expand by nearly 75%."

Ganz objected to a characterization circulating that supporters want to build a Taj Mahal.

"We are not building a Taj Mahal. This place teems with life. There are people in there using it all the time." 

Voting is open to residents in the Guilderland School District. 

Polls are open at elementary schools where people vote for budgets and school board members from noon until 9PM Tuesday.