Supporters of the Freedom to Read Nevada political action committee are preparing to go on a public comment mission to keep libraries funded at previous levels, starting with Tuesday’s Board of County Commissioners meeting.
Their arguments include unclear wording on Washoe County Ballot Question 1 which ended up in a No vote (51.49%) and false flyers and intentionally misleading voter guides.
One of their advocates pointed Our Town Reno to the Washoe Republicans voter guide (included as screenshot) which stated “a “no” vote opposes the creation of a dedicated funding stream to the county library from your property taxes, which will cause your property taxes to be increased.”
The group Nevada Signal (also included as a screenshot) called it a “new tax.”
According to Ballotpedia “a "no" vote opposed adopting a property tax of $20 per $100,000 of assessed value for 30 years to fund the acquisition, improvement, and maintenance of library facilities in Washoe County.”
Library proponents have explained in a petition the vote was actually to continue automatically sending two cents of every $100 of assessed valuation to a library fund, which, approved in 1994, will now sunset in June.
It was generating about $4.5 million yearly, funding two dozen extra staff positions, nearly all of the book budget, the technology budget, construction of new libraries and renovations of existing branches.
Taxes aren’t being lowered for residents, and those funds will still be available via the county’s general fund, but they won’t be going to the library system directly anymore, meaning it’s up to the County Commissioners to decide how to spend the money, on libraries or elsewhere.
Bradley Leavitt, who recently launched a petition to maintain the funding dedicated to libraries, said voters were confused and some now regret having voted no.