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Library looks at another ballot proposal

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Contributed by: Joseph Kirchmer/YourHub.com on 7/1/2008

Douglas County Libraries Jamie LaRue vividly recalls the margin of defeat for a proposed mill-levy increase in the '07 election.

"Do I ever," he says with a sigh.

The vote, which asked voters for a 1.25 mill increase to help fund construction of new buildings and expand the library's operating system, was excruciatingly close. The proposal was voted down by a margin of only 210 votes out of the 42,000 ballots that were cast.

LaRue said the vote was close enough to consider going back to the voters this fall, adding that only 34 percent of registered voters in Douglas County participated in the '07 election. With high voter turnout expected for the presidential election this year, the library will have a better sense of voter's opinions, should they place a proposal on the ballot.

"After that, we'll know," he said. "That will be a community mandate."

LaRue is planning a number of community meetings at area libraries to gather feedback on a potential proposal, including a meeting from 6 to 7 p.m. July 25 at the Parker Library, 10851 S. Crossroads Drive. Though it's not set in stone, the proposal would ask voters to approve a 1.3 mill increase to fund the construction of three new libraries in Parker, Lone Tree and Castle Pines North.

For the average Douglas County homeowner with a home worth $300,000, the increase is equal to about $31.04 per year, or $10 for every $100,000 of the home's market value. A portion of the mill increase - .5 mills - would sunset after the new buildings are finished, he said.

LaRue said the library district needs the extra revenue to keep up with demand. While the population in Douglas County increased by 2.5 percent last year, library usage went up 18 percent. Residents check out 6.5 million books each year, which ranks the county's library system third behind Denver and Colorado Springs respectively, he said.

The library's board will decide by August whether they intend to place the proposal on the ballot.

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