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Aurora [Change Location]

Arapahoe residents watch Aurora's 4A

Article Contributed on: 10/1/2009 9:45:50 PM

A group of Arapahoe County residents is closely watching the City of Aurora Library General Improvement District tax measure (4A) this November 3rd.

The City, facing significant budget cuts and a waffling sales tax base, has proposed to cut its library budget by 50% in 2010. This reduction would close four of Aurora's seven library locations including the Hoffman Heights and Chambers Plaza branches in northern Aurora and the Iliff Square and Mission Viejo branches in southern Aurora. Additionally, the cut would reduce Aurora's materials collection budget from $1.2 million to $300,000. Even at $1.2 million, Aurora has by far the lowest per capita spending among major Front Range library systems.

Most of Arapahoe County that does not include Aurora is part of the Arapahoe Library District (ALD), with the exception of Littleton and Englewood that each has small municipal or city run libraries. ALD is an independent district that levies a property tax dedicated to its sole function - library services.

ALD residents are concerned that their large Smoky Hill Library, located just outside the border of Aurora, will be inundated with Aurora residents if the Aurora closures occur.

"This facility is already heavily used by Aurora residents now" says Marian O'Neil, an ALD resident. "Keep in mind that these Aurora residents do not pay into our library system." Adds O'Neil, "I fully understand that our residents may use some of Aurora's libraries and don't have a problem sharing library resources, however, if Aurora makes these cuts then the playing field will be outrageously lopsided to a point that ALD residents will be subsidizing Aurora residents far beyond a reasonable level." O'Neil is very concerned that the Smoky Hill Library will be overloaded to a point of a logjam.

Skip Johnson, another ALD resident says that his neighborhood association is watching the Aurora situation closely and is poised to demand that the ALD Board of Directors take action to either exclude or charge Aurora resident to use an ALD facility.

"We don't think limiting the amount of materials an Aurora resident can check out is enough" says Johnson. My kids need study space and computers at Smoky Hill and I am not paying my tax so Aurora residents can crowd out my kid --- sounds harsh but Aurora is going too far if they make these closures."

O'Neil and other concerned ALD residents hope Aurora voters pass 4A given Aurora is about the only Front Range community without a dedicated library property tax except for Denver which has more funding to work with overall. "Otherwise" Cameron Safanski, another ALD resident notes "the City needs to figure out a way to fund its libraries." I don't like the idea of limiting Aurora residents, but ALD residents will take action if necessary."

This article written by Chris Malone, Metropolitan State College student

Guidelines: Be kind. Abusive commentary may be removed. If you believe someone has been abusive, please click "Report Abuse".

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Showing 1-10 of 14 comments
Roy Hinkley wrote on 10/4/2009 @ 8:00:33 PM

Cap Skip, give it up. Sheilah thinks Aurora residents pay into ALD. Clearly she doesn't understand that the Arapahoe Library District is NOT Arapahoe County. Two different agencies. ALD levys a property tax to fund itself in Centennial and unincorporated Arapahoe County. Only a tiny part of SE Aurora overlaps into ALD. Those very few Aurora residents pay the ALD tax, but the rest or MOST of Aurora residents don't pay a dime to ALD. Where she is getting the idea the Aurora residents pay into to ALD is beyond me. Keep on trucking Captain!
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Captain Skip wrote on 10/4/2009 @ 8:05:57 AM

Sheilah, you are in a fantasy land thinking Aurora residents contribute anything substantial to ALD. A few volunteer hours and some ratty old books. Excuse, just how much of our $20m annual budget do Aurora residents contribute? $5,000, $10,000 WOW. Maybe we should give Aurora residents "special" library privileges because by george, they are keeping us afloat. And Michael, "do I even live in Aurora," after all this commentary can you even comprehend....of course I DON'T live in Aurora. I live in Centennial in the ALD Library District. And AGAIN, I am not paying my ALD taxes so Aurorians like you can freeload at my libraries. PAY YOUR OWN WAY.
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Michael Davis wrote on 10/4/2009 @ 1:14:04 AM

Captain Skip, then you must not understand economics. You can call me what you want to but we are in a recession like no other. Our government has infused trillions of dollars to prop up a failing economy. Our economy is a consumer driven economy and very little of what we buy is made here. This recession is a global one. You may have a CPA, and obviously you are not an economist. You may be informed about accounting principles but obviously not about the economy. This is not radical ideology, this is beginning to happen now. Prices at the grocery store are going up, the milk I buy went up 20% as well as other items. This economy is not recovering, it is getting worse. If we have double digit inflation, the tax goes up double digits, even if property values fall. The mill levy will be adjusted to reflect both situations. How is there nothing wrong with this? You like many others minimize the effect this will have on people in Aurora. Do you even live in Aurora?
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Captain Skip wrote on 10/3/2009 @ 4:57:20 PM

By the way, I read all about this tax and you are an alarmist. There is nothing wrong with tax. Its actually good becuase eventhough it allows for inflation, it appears to cap or limit any other type of growth in expenditures if the economey or tax base grows. What better way to limit the growth of govt. I am informed and I am a CPA, by the way. I do understand this stuff. I operated on common sense, not radical idology.
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Captain Skip wrote on 10/3/2009 @ 4:52:05 PM

First Sheilah, if you don't even live in Aurora and won't pay this tax, what do you care? How strange. 2nd Mr. Davis, access to libaries can be controlled like a museum or swimming pool so we should restrict usage where we reasonably can for those who don't contribute. Just like I pay more to use an Aurora golf course or pool because I don't pay their property tax. Finally, Sheilah, I am forced to pay taxes to ALD and I going to make sure I'm not subsidizing a bunch of free loaders. Go volunteer and give your $5 donation to Jefferson County. They can have you, we are doing just fine here in ALD.
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Michael Davis wrote on 10/3/2009 @ 10:26:43 AM

Captain Skip, I did look at my tax bill after posting that comment. We do pay Arapahoe County taxes. Because our sales taxes are so high, the city chose not to fund many things through property taxes. We just want our city to do the right thing and have a property tax like Arapahoe County. Look at the ballot before complaining about it. Any reasonable person would never vote for such a tax. It is tied to inflation and not property values. Maybe Aurora should charge fees to non residents for responding to accidents, ambulatory services. How about tolls to use the roads going into and out of unincorporated Arapahoe County. It makes about as much sense as what you are saying. Just because we do not pay the same property taxes you do, it does not mean we don't support the libraries in other ways. My family has given books, purchased books and volunteered at the Arapahoe Libraries. Stay informed, Vote NO on 4A.
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a a wrote on 10/3/2009 @ 10:03:59 AM

This is an obnoxious threat in an attempt to start a rumor to extort more people to vote for an unfair tax. As a resident of Arapahoe County, I pay Arapahoe County taxes. I was raised in Sheridan and lived in unincorporated Arapahoe County. I made an investment in ALD. I volunteered for the libraries. I donate funds to the ALD. It is not my fault that Arapahoe County has not asked me to pay the same tax as you nor is it my fault that the City Council in Aurora has been cutting the library budget for 6 years and put forth an unethical property tax. Perhaps if you were an Aurora resident, you would read 4A. It is a sneaky tax. I wrote to the Executive Director of the ALD. I will post the response from the ALD. I can always forward my donations to the Jeffco district should they bend to your threats. Good luck with the ID check thing, Capt'n Skip. Try not to allienate people who support your libraries. P.S. May I quote you?
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Captain Skip wrote on 10/3/2009 @ 7:27:23 AM

Mr. Davis: you said "I am one of the Aurora residents that thought we paid into the Arapahoe Library District as a part of living in Arapahoe County" With all your ranting and raving here about taxes and you haven't even looked at your tax assessment? If Aurora doesn't fund it's Libraries one way or another to a reasonable level, don't think you are coming to ALD for a free rid. You are already coasting along as it is on our tax money at Smoky Hill.
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Captain Skip wrote on 10/3/2009 @ 7:26:42 AM

Dear Ms. Thomas: 1. Is this "a threat" as you say? You bet its a "shot over the bow". We in ALD are not paying for Aurora's free ride. This issue will be brought to the Arapahoe County Neighborhood network group for a review. 2. We don't care or know what the official position of ALD is on this issue at this time. If Aurora cuts their libraries and we see the influx we predict at Smoky Hill and the May Libraries, we will be "encouraging" our ALD officials to take action to limit Aurora residents. 3. For the small corners of Aurora that do pay the ALD tax, come one, come all! Of course they are welcome, they are paying for this service. 4. Arapahoe Library District does not include most of Aurora. They can't put a tax ballot question outside their jurisdiction. What in the world are you talking about? The ALD district is not the same as the County. It even goes into Adams County.
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a a wrote on 10/2/2009 @ 6:51:26 PM

I've posted a query to Eloise May, Executive Director of the Arapahoe County Library District. That would be the best way to get the official stance on this issue. I'll post the reply as soon as it is received. Cheers to you!
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Showing 1-10 of 14 comments
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