Pro & Con: Residents Speak on Plan to Build New Library

Residents continue to speak out on the subject of a proposed new $21 million Shorewood-Troy Library.

"For the amount of people who use the library, we do need a larger facility," Luann Bertino stated in an article published by Bugle Newspapers. "It's just too bad they have to raise taxes in order to pay for it. But I will support the referendum since it is needed."

The question question of wheter to move forward on the library project will be presented to voters on April 9 in the form of a tax referendum. If the referendum is approved, the owner of a $200,000 home in the Shorewood library district could expect to pay $277.60 more a year in taxes, according to the Bugle Newspapers report.

"I am not in support of spending $21 million for a new facility," Shorewood's Marc Gorsh stated in the article. "I would support a nominal increase over a period of time."

Shorewood Patch readers have engaged in a lively debate on the subject, too.

Here is an example of that debate in a recent comments thread on ShorewoodILPatch. The comments came in response to an article: Director: Library Proposal Addresses Need for Space.

The comments ...

Irish10

Lets see...we moved to Shorewood 10 years ago...since then the water bills have doubled, we have a new fire station (taxpayers paying through a referendum), the value of my house has decreased but my taxes are the same, and now their is a "hairbrain" idea that we must have a library in Shorewood....what's next...vote NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO....we don't need it.

BobotheChimp

Isn't there a big library just down the street on Black Road to handle the overflow?

I'm a reader, but this is ridiculous.