Lakewood Looks To Place Library Funding On School District Tax Rolls
The 259 referendum vote for Southwestern Central School District taxpayers was discussed during a Village of Lakewood Board of Trustees meeting.
The referendum, if approved, would change the way the Lakewood Memorial Library and Hazeltine Public Library are funded. A New York state education law allows for libraries to seek out funding from school district taxpayers directly. Currently, the town of Busti and the village of Lakewood budget for the libraries’ funding each year. The 259 referendum would subject all municipalities in the Southwestern Central School District to fund the libraries. For the town of Busti and the village of Lakewood the change would only affect how the tax money was collected. The bill would be present on the school district’s tax bill as opposed to on the town’s or village’s bill.
The referendum asks for a budget of $204,000 with $139,000 for Lakewood library and $65,000 for the Hazeltine library. Members representing the libraries said the overall taxes for current residents paying for the libraries would decrease because the bill is being spread out over more people. The Southwestern Central School District reaches areas in the towns of Ellicott, Harmony, Ellery and Busti.
Other municipalities have attempted to pass the same type of referendum in Jamestown, Ripley and Dunkirk. The two votes in Ripley and Dunkirk successfully passed. The Jamestown vote in 2016 seeking $850,000 in taxpayer funding failed by way of 856 in favor and 1,306 against.
The 259 referendum vote for the Southwestern Central School District voters will be held on May 15 at the Southwestern Central School District school lobby from 7- 9 a.m. and 2-8 p.m.
Also discussed during the public hearing regarding the budget was the board’s support for a state bill that would allow local EMS services to charge individuals’ insurances for service. The board noted that this could take a huge burden away from the village if EMS services were “self-sustaining.” Currently, the village budgets funding each year for the services.
The board encourages members of the community to write to local government representatives in support of the bill.
The board was also asked about creating new means of income. The board assured the public that it is looking at every single line on the tentative budget for ways to add revenue and cut expenses.
In other news, public hearing dates were set for local law proposals that would set a moratorium on wind turbines and solar panels for April 23 at 6:40 p.m. and 6:45 p.m., respectively.