Although election day has passed, the work to build better libraries is just beginning. With the 67% to 33% failure of the Library Tax, Metro Government must now look within itself to fund library improvements. To ensure we have the opportunity to move the Library Master Plan forward, two ordinances (O-278-11-07) and (O-279-11-07) were submitted for a first reading at the Thursday, November 8, 2007 meeting of the Louisville Metro Council.

These two ordinances represent the first of many investments that Metro Government should make over the course of the next several years to help improve our libraries by building new regional branches and eventually building and renovating neighborhood branches in Jefferson County.

Here is an explanation of the two ordinances:

O-278-11-07: This ordinance will move $750,000 in excess funds collected thus far this year and appropriate the money to our libraries for engineering studies and the hiring of additional library staff. This ordinance would be the first of several annual increases to the library’s operations budget to assist with the expected growth that will come with the library’s expansion.

O-279-11-07: This ordinance will amend the FY2008 Budget to include $25 million in bonds for the construction of three regional libraries in Jefferson County. This bond would be the first in a series that would be authorized over the next several years. It would use funds freed up from previous debt used for projects like Slugger Field to pay for new and expanded libraries.

The two ordinances outlined above have been sent to the Metro Council's Budget Committee for review.  Although many council members have signed up to sponsor these ordinances, we are still in need of your support to ensure these ordinances are passed.  We need the support of the community to build new libraries now.

Please e-mail the Metro Council with your thoughts on libraries at:

Kathy.Herron@louisvilleky.gov

Members of the Metro Council Budget Committee are: 

Madonna Flood (D) Dist. 24 (Chair)
Hal Heiner (R) Dist. 19 (Vice-Chair)
Barbara Shanklin (D) Dist. 2
Mary Woolridge (D) Dist. 3
George Unseld (D) Dist. 6
Ken Fleming (R) Dist. 07
Jim King (D) Dist. 10
Kevin Kramer (R) Dist. 11
Kelly Downard (R) Dist. 16
Stuart Benson (R) Dist. 20
Dan Johnson (D) Dist. 21         

Please contact our office if you have questions regarding this initiative. I appreciate all the calls, emails, and input we have received on the library issue.