Davis considers property-tax hike for libraries
More funds needed for repair of aging sites, director says
While the county's library system has been expanded recently, more is needed to accommodate future population growth and repair aging buildings, said Davis Library director Pete Giacoma, who presented the report to the commission.
The county currently has a five-library system with one library under construction in Centerville. Future needs, according to the report, include rebuilding the Farmington and Kaysville libraries, expanding the new Syracuse library and building branches in South Weber and North Salt Lake.
Rebuilding the Farmington and Kaysville libraries are top priorities for the Davis County Library Board, said Giacoma. Revenue exists to fund the two rebuild projects, but not until 2010 and 2013.
Money is not available to fund a North Salt Lake library nor expansion of the Syracuse branch. Current revenues would allow for construction of a South Weber branch, but not until 2014.
"With a sound financial base for supporting public services, programs and administration, buildings pose the most notable challenge for the Library," Giacoma wrote in the report, "Building a Future: Options, Scenarios and Costs for Capital Projects, 2006-2014."
He presented commissioners with two options that would allow all library projects to be built by 2014: a $5 to $5.50 increase of the county's current library tax, or an $8.35 to $9.20 increase. On average, Davis residents pay about $41 a year for the Davis County library system; fees were last hiked by $13 in 2000.
Giacoma recommends that commissioners if they do implement a tax increase review the need for the increase after all building projects are completed. Giacoma also said the Davis Library Board is "not really" recommending that commissioners implement the $8.35 to $9.20 increase. The construction timeline would be impractical under that scenario, he said.
"It's possible in the widest sense of the word, but not practical," Giacoma said.
The commissioners said they would take under advisement the funding options listed in the library report. After next year's budget is released, the commission will have a better idea as to what it will do, said Commissioner Carol Page.
"I think the community needs to look at the proposal and weigh the implications," she said. "Most consider libraries to be a quality-of-life issue and have been supportive (of tax increases) in the past."
The Davis County Commis- sion will review a preliminary draft of the county's 2006 budget next Tuesday. A public hearing on the budget will be held Dec. 15 at 6:30 p.m. at the Davis County Courthouse.
E-mail: nwarburton@desnews.com
Comments
- Attempted murder case refiled 1:58 a.m.
- Sports on the air 1:38 a.m.
- This weekend on TV 1:38 a.m.
- Birthdays for Saturday, July 11 1:38 a.m.
- 2 men cited on LDS plaza 1:37 a.m.
- S.L. man spots stolen car — his 1:23 a.m.
- Girl critical after run-in with train 1:23 a.m.
- Probe of death treated as slaying 1:22 a.m.
- Taylorsville man arrested in robbery 1:21 a.m.
- HBO defends U. logo use in 'Love' 1:20 a.m.
- LDS seminary principal arrested
- Jazz brass debate Millsap match
- Reactions on Boozer speculation
- Teacher faces new sex charges
- Jazz talking Boozer trade?
- 2 men cited on LDS plaza
- Jazz down Oklahoma City
- 2 Tooele police officers fired
- BYU professor to work on Hebrew Bible
- Jazz finances not quite so bleak
- LDS seminary principal arrested
142 - Bronco collecting a galaxy of recruits
141 - Jazz talking Boozer trade?
136 - Blazers may offer Millsap a contract
123 - Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
94 - Jazz brass debate Millsap match
88 - Fairness of BCS debated
81 - Chaffetz eyes challenging Bennett
74 - Letters: Single-payer system best
72 - Services bids farewell to Jackson
70
As more and more dads are put out of work in this economy, I've been...
The photographs are mysterious, brooding, dark. They show dimples and...
Didn't Obama and Biden just admit to the fact that the stimilus programs were...
The last part of the article about Cowherd is classic!!! I normally like the...
This man was my teacher in high school. He is my friend, he was like a father...
I like millsap, but portland just burried themselves. They made themselves...
It's amazing how quickly society is willing to vaccinate it's children with...
The first income tax was introduced during the Civil War, that's only 70...
If he really did what the evidence seems to show, I don't think he should be...
Utah needs Portland too much. It's much harder than you think to find good...
stacy, have you ever eaten there ??
I had Brother Pratt at Viewmont High School my sophomore year... I was really...



You can be the first to comment on this story.