44°
To the editor:
I am writing this open letter to the Putnam Valley Library Board of Trustees not only to reiterate my objections to your Chapter 414 proposal, but to also present a reasonable compromise that residents maybe more willing to support.
My objection has always been with the vehicle you chose to receive additional tax funds, not with the library. Under Chapter 414 the taxpayers are left in the dark as to how a requested budget is spent. In a Chapter 414 the library board is not required to be transparent, you're only required to put forth an amount, in this case, an increase of over 100%. A Chapter 414 library board is not required to be elected by the residents. Therefore, there could be no real accountability in an unelected board responsible for $600,000 of taxpayer money.
As an elected town board member I would support placing this proposal on the ballot under two simple conditions. First, the library board treat their budget like any town or school board. Itemized budget requests must be submitted to the voters for their input before a final budget is put to a vote. Taxpayers should be privy to the library finances. After all, it is taxpayer money. Second, as the Mid Hudson Library System suggests in their manual to libraries, library boards change their bylaws and allow all their members to be elected.
Mid Hudson calls this a show of a library board's commitment to transparency. Any board that is responsible for spending tax money should be held accountable for their decisions through elections. Residents should not be taxed without elected representation.
This is a fundamental and unwavering cornerstone of this great country. Residents should have the right to participate. Just to be clear, I will support the Putnam Valley Library Board's efforts to become funded through a Chapter 414 referendum if they will become transparent and accountable to the residents of Putnam Valley. All I ask is that the library board be held to the same standards that any town or school board that is responsible for taxpayer funds, no more, no less. This gesture of goodwill will go a long way with our residents.
Sincerely,
Jackie Annabi
Putnam Valley Town Board Member
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