Hampton Bays Library $9.9 Million Bond Voted Down By Wide Margin

HAMPTON BAYS, NY — Taxpayers had one word for a proposed $9.9 million bond referendum pitched by the Hampton Bays Public Library: "No."

The bond referendum was voted down by a vote of 336 "yes" to 571 "no", Library representatives announced after Tuesday's vote.

The proposed bond was for $9,877,000, with annual debt service of $647,000 and the actual cost to the owner of a home valued at $350,000, $64 per year.

According to a message put out to the community before the vote, last June, voters rejected a proposal to build a new library.

The Library's Board of Trustees was left with two options, the release said, including a building plan that would completely renovate the entire building on Ponquogue Avenue and acquire the adjacent property as a long term solution, or to continue making repairs in a piecemeal fashion over an extended period, "which would not only cost significantly more, it would cause continued disruption to library services until all of the work has been completed."

After the vote, Library representatives posted on the facility's Facebook page, "The Board intends to pursue alternate options to purchase the property."

According to the mailer to residents, after reviewing both options, the Board felt a complete renovation was "the responsible choice. Today, our Library is so much more than books. We are a community center where people of all ages and backgrounds meet, study, share ideas through lively conversation, connect to computer based information resources, and beyond. However, we have outgrown our space and need to repair and renovate the current building."

Patch file photo.