faq's
What Does 6A Support?
What is a mill levy?
The mill levy is the "tax rate" that is applied to the assessed value of a property. One mill is one dollar per $1,000 dollars of assessed value.
What is the Gallagher Amendment and what does it have to do with this request for a mill levy increase?
The Gallagher Amendment has reduced library revenues by 14% since 2011. Read up on all things Gallagher here.
What happens if 6A fails?
- The library would acquire fewer new materials and resources (fewer copies of best sellers and new releases)
- Fewer programs and classes, such as Story Time, tech support, Spanish Happy Hour, community cooking classes, One Book / One Canyon events & author presentations
- Fewer digital resources and streaming services
- Reduced open hours / access
- More staff cuts, less assistance, fewer programs, training and process materials for checkout
- Scaled back technological investments and only basic repairs to the building
- Longer waitlists and wait times
- Fewer services for working families
Where can I learn more about Voting?
Glad you asked! You can find an entire page of Voting FAQ's such as:
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Where are Voter Service and Polling Centers?
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When is the election?
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How does early and mail-in voting work?
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Who can vote on Ballot Measure 6A?
Measure 6A will appear on the ballots of voters throughout the San Miguel Public Library District, which has the same boundaries as the Telluride School District, Telluride Fire District, Telluride Hospital District.
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Norwood and the West End will not vote on this measure, as those communities are in the Lone Cone Library District, which shares the same boundaries as the Norwood School District.
When does early voting begin?
Ballots go out October 18, 2019 and early voting begins Friday, October 21, 2019.
Why can't the library create revenue by charging for the use of the Program and / or meeting rooms?
We asked Executive Director, Sarah Landeryou to answer this one:
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The Wilkinson Public Library offers meeting spaces for anyone in the community needing that space regardless of their ability to pay. Providing meeting spaces is a major part of our public library's mission to connect, enrich and strengthen the community, and the library upholds those ideals by being committed to providing equitable access for everyone.
The meeting rooms, like programs, materials and services are not dependent on an individual or group’s ability to pay. In fact, the meeting rooms are used by many local organizations, nonprofits and patrons needing a place to gather, host a talk or get work done.
The variety of use is amazing, just like our community. Meeting rooms are a big part of the Wilkinson Public Library’s mission to provide and utilize library space to create a community commons that ensures maximum access for diverse users.
When was the last time the San Miguel Public Library District asked voters for a tax increase?
1997. And throughout these last 22 years, the library has continually grown in its role in the community in terms of the services provided and in the number of people served.
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Remarkably, the Wilkinson Public Library has also kept up with modern technology, which is both more expensive and complicated, to provide access to reliable information and technology.
Who uses the Wilkinson Public Library?
Nearly 700 people visit the library every day of the week!
Over 29,000 people attended library programs in 2018!
The Wilkinson Public Library is in high demand from all ages, including adults, teens and children who seek a safe space, and we expect demand to grow. Meeting rooms and program spaces are in high demand year-round.
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How many people work at the Wilkinson Public Library?
The Wilkinson Public Library provides quality employment opportunities for over 20 full-time employees. Library administration say ideal staffing should reflect the number of employees maintained in 2012.
This staff deserve a wage that allows them to live in the community they serve.
The Library has been efficient with the budget, reducing staff by 25% (since 2012) while also paying off a bond in 2017 in order to retire the .8 mill levy that paid for the facility.
What percentage increase is this mill levy request?
The San Miguel Public Library District is requesting an additional .75 of a mill for operating revenues. Currently, the operating mill levy is 2.8 mills. So if approved, the operating mill levy would increase 26 percent. The library is a good steward of resources and in 2017 retired a separate .80 of a mill that was dedicated to the facility when the bond was finally paid-off.
What is the exact 6A ballot language?
SHALL SAN MIGUEL COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT #1 TAXES BE INCREASED $630,000 ANNUALLY FOR COLLECTION BEGINNING IN 2020, AND ANNUALLY THEREAFTER BY AN ADDITIONAL PERCENTAGE EQUAL TO INFLATION PLUS ANNUAL LOCAL GROWTH AS DEFINED IN ART. X, SECTION 20 OF THE COLORADO CONSTITUTION, TO MAINTAIN EXISTING SERVICES AND TO MEET THE INCREASED DEMAND FOR ADDITIONAL SERVICES, WHICH MAY INCLUDE:
PROVIDING INCREASED READING, LITERACY AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES
FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH;
MODERNIZING AND UPGRADING THE COMMUNITY SPACES AND TECHNOLOGY;
DELIVERING A WELCOMING AND SAFE SPACE TO SERVE THE NEEDS OF
STUDENTS AND ADULTS IN THE COMMUNITY;
ATTRACTING AND RETAINING HIGH-QUALITY LIBRARIANS AND SERVICE STAFF
MEMBERS;
SUPPORTING THE COST OF GENERAL OPERATIONS AND FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS;
AND SHALL THE DISTRICT BE AUTHORIZED TO LEVY A PROPERTY TAX AT A RATE SUFFICIENT TO PRODUCE THIS INCREASE, COMMENCING WITH TAXES PAYABLE IN 2020 AND CONTINUING EACH YEAR THEREAFTER (EXPECTED TO BE AN ADDITIONAL 0.75 MILLS AND TO RESULT IN AN ANNUAL TAX INCREASE OF $5.36 FOR A RESIDENCE WORTH $100,000 IN 2020); AND SHALL THE DISTRICT BE ENTITLED TO COLLECT, RETAIN AND SPEND THOSE REVENUES IN ADDITION TO ANY OTHER TAXES, FEES OR OTHER REVENUES OF THE DISTRICT AND NOTWITHSTANDING ANY LIMITATION OR RESTRICTION OF ARTICLE X , SECTION 20 OF THE COLORADO CONSTITUTION, OR WITHOUT REGARD TO THE 5.5% PROPERTY TAX REVENUE LIMITATION OF SECTION 29-1-301, C.R.S. OR ANY OTHER LAW.