Highland OKs taxes for library

HIGHLAND — Thousands of books in Highland's old library collection are one step closer to going back on the shelf.

At a recent public meeting, the Highland City Council voted, after the mayor broke a tie, to increase the city's property taxes to help fund a new public library. On average, the city portion of residents' property taxes will increase by $6 from last year and yield about $200,000 to pay for the library's operational costs.

Although two City Council members voted for the increase and two council members voted against it, Mayor Jay Franson broke the tie with a vote for a tax increase. Councilman Glen Vawdrey was not at the meeting.

"That vote was really for the library," Franson said. "I have a strong sense of education and belief that our future is our children. If we can provide an atmosphere for them to grow and learn and to explore the tremendous amount of information that is in books, then I think the library is very important to the community."

Had the tax increase been voted down, property taxes on a $350,000 home would have dropped by about $33 this year from last year. With the increase, city taxes on that home will be about $273.

The $200,000 will help pay for a new librarian and to get the library up and running. Highland's library board has vowed to raise the additional $300,000 that is necessary to build the library's collection through donations and grants.

The state library division recommends that a new library serving a town the size of Highland should have a collection of 25,000 items to begin with. It is estimated that the

average cost of obtaining and processing new books is about $16 per item, but the city already has some books left over from a previous library attempt that can be used.

So far, the library board has raised about $3,500 toward its intended $300,000, but it's not worried about getting the rest of the money.

"We have attended conferences where (communities) share experiences about raising money to start a library," said Councilwoman Claudia Stillman, who is a member of the library board. "We believe that our community must surely have as many resources available to us (as the other communities that have been successful). We are not daunted by the prospect (of raising $300,000) but we think it is a feasible prospect."

From 1994 to 2000, the city ran a small library out of Mountain Ridge Junior High School. The library closed after six years because it was not open during school hours and other hindrances, Stillman said.