Denver voters will decide in November whether to raise property taxes to fund Denver Public Library

DENVER — Voters in Denver will resolve in November whether or not to ascertain a brand new property tax that might elevate about $31 million every year to additional fund the Denver Public Library system after metropolis council authorized the measure for the poll on Monday night.

The council voted 11-1 to place the proposed initiative on November’s poll – a request that got here earlier this summer time from Denver Metropolis Librarian Michelle Jeske.

If authorized by voters, the ordinance would set up a brand new property tax of 1.5 mills, or about $1.50 on each $1,000 of assessed property worth, for Denver owners.

The cash would go towards funding the Denver Public Library, which Jeske informed the council’s Finances and Coverage Committee earlier this yr would come out to about $31.6 million every year based mostly on 2021 property assessments.

Jeske additionally stated that the common Denver home-owner would pay an estimated $4.19 every month if the tax is authorized.

The push for the brand new tax got here out of discussions final yr about how you can fund a strategic roadmap for the library system on the way it can broaden its areas and companies to extra neighborhoods and higher serve Denver.

“After conducting 63 group conferences with greater than 500 group members, DPL created a brand new strategic roadmap that focuses on what our rising and altering group wants – now we have to fund that community-developed plan,” Jeske stated final month.

The plan goals to pay librarians and employees extra, broaden expertise companies and different packages, broaden hours and choices, and work with individuals in search of jobs, in line with proponents.

District 8 Metropolis Councilman Chris Herndon was the lone no vote in opposition to the measure on Monday. He stated he felt the council may discover the cash elsewhere within the metropolis funds.

Polling of probably voters from a bunch supporting the library present in April discovered a majority of these polled supported a possible property tax improve to broaden library funding.

Nicole Sullivan, who owns two unbiased e book shops in Denver, stated she supported the potential funding within the library.

“I’m thrilled that this funding will permit DPL to extend wages for librarians and employees – the very individuals who safeguard freedom of expression and unfold a love of books,” Sullivan stated in a press release.

Denver voters may also resolve, by citizen-led initiatives, whether or not to publicly fund sidewalk building and maintenance by a brand new charge, whether or not to extend marijuana gross sales taxes to fund out-of-school alternatives for youths, whether or not to lift taxes to offer authorized illustration for individuals going through eviction, and whether or not to require recycling and composting in any respect Denver companies.