Boulder Public Library District 6C - Library District Funded by 3.5 Mill Property Tax

In 1917 Boulder adopted its city charter. Since then, the Boulder Public Library (BPL) has been funded and run by the city and overseen by the advisory Library Commission. Complaints of underfunding over the years have led to placing Issue 6C on the ballot to fund a library district. Library districts are a common management system and source of stable funding for libraries across Colorado.

The proposed library district includes the entire city of Boulder and some adjacent unincorporated areas. (See the map in the link to Resolution No. 2022-058 below.) To fund this district, Issue 6C asks voters to impose a 3.5 mill property tax. This would amount to $115/year on a home with an “actual” (aka taxable) value for assessment purposes of $500,000.

Recommendation: TAX

The proposed library district property tax would provide for more stable funding than the city’s recent appropriations. The district’s plans might be considered overly ambitious, going beyond restoring services to create a new Gunbarrel branch.

The library district tax will fall equally (3.5 mills) on all property owners in the proposed district, but city taxpayers who have been paying for the library will not see any reduction in city taxes if 6C passes. It’s possible that the city of Boulder will repeal the 1/3 mill tax that currently goes into the city’s Library Fund if 6C and Boulder Question 2C pass, but city council won’t make that call until next year at the earliest. Regardless, city taxpayers will continue paying the remainder of the city’s current allocation for the Library Fund, but the funds would go toward other city expenses if 6C passes.

If you don’t believe that the city will start to adequately fund the library and you value the library, vote for 6C. Here are some other tax management options that city voters have because the Climate Tax 2A is another city tax on the ballot:
• Vote against Boulder 2A and against Library District 6C – to minimize taxes
• Vote against Boulder 2A and for Library District 6C – if you want a library district and think the city should use the money that would have gone into the Library Fund to respond to the climate crisis
• Vote for Boulder 2A and against Library District 6C – if you don’t want a library district, but you do want to tax yourself to respond to the climate crisis
• Vote for Boulder 2A and for Library District 6C – if you want a library district and don’t believe the city will respond to the climate crisis without a dedicated climate tax

If 2A and/or 6C fail, you might see them again on a future ballot.

Website for the Yes side – Boulder Library Champions
https://www.boulderlibrarychampions.org/

Website for the No side – Keep Our Libraries
http://www.keepourlibraries.com/


Approved Ballot Language
Boulder Public Library District Ballot Issue 6C
LIBRARY DISTRICT FORMATION AND MILL LEVY TAX AND REVENUE CHANGE

SHALL THE BOULDER PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT TAXES BE INCREASED $18,780,000 ANNUALLY FOR COLLECTION BEGINNING IN 2023, AND BY SUCH ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS RAISED ANNUALLY THEREAFTER BY AN AD VALOREM PROPERTY TAX MILL LEVY IMPOSED AT A RATE OF 3.5 MILLS TO PROVIDE FACILITIES AND SERVICES WHICH MAY INCLUDE:
 RESTORED AND IMPROVED LITERACY PROGRAMS, INCLUDING PARTNERSHIPS WITH SCHOOLS TO REACH UNDERSERVED STUDENTS AND STUDENTS WHO FELL BEHIND DURING THE PANDEMIC;
 ADDITIONAL FREE AND SAFE PUBLIC SPACES FOR COMMUNITY MEETINGS, WORKSHOPS AND PROGRAMS;
 UPDATED AND IMPROVED COLLECTIONS OF BOOKS AND MATERIALS, INCLUDING BILINGUAL MATERIALS AND DOWNLOADING OF E-BOOKS, MOVIES, AND MUSIC;
 EXTENDED HOURS AT ALL EXISTING LIBRARIES AND A NEW BRANCH LIBRARY IN GUNBARREL;
 EXPANDED ACCESS TO STEAM PROGRAMS, MAKERSPACES, AND FREE INTERNET FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES AND SENIORS;
 IMPROVED MAINTENANCE, CLEANLINESS, SAFETY, AND SECURITY AT ALL LIBRARY FACILITIES;
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, 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, AND SHALL THE DISTRICT BE FORMED?

YES/FOR ____
NO/AGAINST ____

Resolution No. 2022-058 describing Issue 6C and including a map
https://assets.bouldercounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Reso-2022-058-referring-library-district-to-election.pdf
Resolution No. 2022-059 to refer Issue 6C to the voters
https://assets.bouldercounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Reso-2022-059-approving-ballot-title-for-Library-district.pdf