Voting for Libraries?! Grab Your Wallet & Ballot
Unresponsive Library Board drives bill for citizen-elected library boards. Facing deaf opposition, supporters rally for representation through special elections with nominal costs.
Credit Perchance.AI
Is your Library working in our community to take money from Senior Citizens and the Disabled—all without any representation?
Representative Jamie Gragg District 140 Update
Library Board Election Bill
HB 2648 would make library boards elected instead of appointed
The goal is more accountability and representation for taxpayers
Some key points:
Christian County has pushed for this due to lack of responsiveness from appointed board
Concerns that appointed boards are not listening to public comments
Bill tries to balance representation with flexibility for small/rural libraries
Opposition is forming from state Library associations
Next steps:
Encourage Rep. Hannah Kelly to pick up the bill in committee
Consider combining with a similar bill from Rep. Tony Lovasco
Testify to the committee in person if possible
Election Costs
The bill only requires an election if other issues are already on the ballot
So costs would be minimal - just the printing on the ballot
Verify exact costs with County Clerk Paula Brumfield
Costs would include advertising and ballot real estate
Voting Interest
There seems to be public interest in voting for library boards
But some polling may be necessary to confirm
SB 190
Circuit Breaker bill that gave Seniors and the Disabled Real Property Tax Breaks. Needs to be fixed and extended to more people.
House may have to fix what comes out of the Senate.
Advocacy may be needed for Senators to support an amended version
Foster Care Bill
Addresses issues with a 1982 statute governing foster care
Rep. Holly Jones has rewritten the problematic statute
Scheduled for committee vote on Tuesday 2/27
Long process but aims to improve foster care
Copyright © 2024 by David Rice
I think it is Tony Lovasco. 😎