Library District tax impact estimate lower than expected

The combined tax impact of the two ballot issues to be presented to the voters this fall by the Gunnison County Library District will be $13.35 per $100,000 of assessed value for Gunnison County homeowners.

Library District officials announced this week that the property tax estimate had been lowered from the original estimate of $25 per $100,000 of assessed value.
Under the new figures, a taxpayer who owns a home with an assessed value of $200,000 would pay increased property taxes of $26.70 in 2012. For a home valued at $300,000 property taxes would increase by $40.05.
Due to the Gallagher Amendment, approved by Colorado voters in 1982, business property owners will see an increase of approximately $40 per $100,000 of assessed value.
Library District board president Bruce Bartleson said the decrease in the tax impact is due to careful budgeting by the district, the fact that interest rates are at historic lows and a decrease in the total assessed valuation of all county property.
He emphasized that the $13.35 figure is what a homeowner would pay for the entire year per $100,000 of assessed value.
“We are attempting to be as cost-effective as possible as we plan for library facilities and services that will meet the needs of our county now and far into the future,” Bartleson said.
“We are hopeful that taxpayers will compare this small cost to having a dinner or lunch at a local restaurant once a year,” he said.
Bartleson explained that even though the ballot language, as required by the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) which was approved by voters in 1992, states the library district is asking for $6.5 million in construction funding, the annual cost is much less, or about $591,000.
In addition, the second ballot question asks for about $2.4 million a year for operation and maintenance. In actuality, the district plans to ask for only one mil in 2012, or about $691,000.
The total request for 2012, Bartleson said, would be for about $1.3 million.
“That is how the cost per $100,000 can be kept so low,” he said.
The county ballot, to be mailed in early October, will have two questions related to the library district.
One will ask for funding for a new library facility in Gunnison and construction of a children’s library annex behind Old Rock Community Library in Crested Butte.
The second question will ask for funding for operation and maintenance of the two facilities, including funding for a small library reading room in the proposed Performing Arts Center in Mt. Crested Butte.
Bartleson said current library facilities are too small, with Gunnison’s building at only 5,000 square feet and the Crested Butte Library at only 3,000 square feet.
“Not only do we lack space for materials for all ages, but we have no space for meetings and programming,” he said. “Our plans are to vastly increase programming through a new concept called a ‘learning center’ and to make programming for children and youth a high priority.”
Bartleson said the new facilities will be one of the final pieces needed to make Gunnison County attractive to newcomers and that it will be a definite positive move for the county’s economic development.
“We have wonderful schools, a great college, a variety of recreational facilities with the rec center and the skating facilities, along with miles of trails and outdoor recreation possibilities,” he said.
“Now we need to concentrate on facilities that provide another kind of services to everyone, free of charge, regardless of income.”