Mendon, a town of maybe 10,000 people, have raised over $300,000 for their new addition to complete their library project.
Link to MPL's website.
YNN article from last year about their fundraising efforts.
Irondequoit, a town of over 50,000 people, have raised less than $10,000 for....whatever it is they're going to do with the libraries.
Link to IPL's website.
10 comments:
Wow, I'm impressed! So I guess it can be done. We should find out how Mendon did it.
I'm guessing they didn't hire a consultant...
Irondequoit town tax 6.514986 Iron cty tax 7.226971 + 0.912322
Mendon town tax 2.774114 Mendon Cty tax 7.781978 + 0.555927
Irondequoit school tax 25.932338
East Irondequoit tax 27.447469
Mendon
Honeoye Falls-Lima 21.474447
Pittsford Mendon 23.770013
Foils, I believe you are putting the cart before the horse. Mendon raised the money after announcing a specific project with a specific location and a specific plan for a building. When the Town Government of Irondequoit (I'm not sure the library folks could legally do this on their own)puts out a plan with a specific location and a proposed building I suspect the residents of our town will raise tons of money for it. Here in heavily developed Irondequoit it is a bit harder to find a place to build or a large building to make over. Few folks will be interested in donating until they see the details on the proposed project. When the right place is found the money will roll in. I'm guessing "cheri" is wrong and they did use a consultant. I think you'll find large projects like this often use them, for design, for fund raising, for public relations or for help in the referendum campaign. My question is: If they raised all the money they needed so there would be no tax impact for the entire project would there still be enough people who would object that they would attempt to force a referendum anyway?
In fairness, the median household income in Mendon is three times what it is in Irondequoit...
Well, as far as I knew - the Town submitted a plan. In fact, (you'd better call the library though, and double check) it is in the "new" Master Plan.
Linky.
"If they raised all the money they needed so there would be no tax impact for the entire project would there still be enough people who would object that they would attempt to force a referendum anyway?"
I don't know - but my questions are:
Why does anyone have to FORCE a referendum? Shouldn't they just offer a vote in the first place?
If there are more people who vote yes - then so be it. If there are more people who vote no - will it be?
Why is ok to use the "negative no people's" tax money to fund the library (and a consultant!) - but when these people bring up reasons why they don't want a new library....they get bombarded with labels and are basically told that their voice doesn't count?
Their tax money is fine, but their opinions aren't? Nice.
I would expect a library, or any other public building project, to have a consultant.
What I don't expect, is the library turning down a matching grant to pave parking lots (it's a safety issue!) and instead, spend that money on a consultant to tell you that you need more support.
I could have told you that. For free.
I would have held a "community art contest" and picked a few things to print out for bookmarks etc. I would have taken pictures of residents and made posters. The community could have come up with a catchy tag line, or new colors.
It probably would have cost a lot less, and it would have involved the community a lot more.
I'd like to see a lot more effort for fundraising. It could be for improvements right now - or save for a new library. I think more people would be supportive if there was a little more effort in that area. They see you taking initiative and "saving" for what you want (instead of relying solely on the taxpayer for all of it) - and it might change their minds.
Sean,
True, but, if you have support for your library - with over 5 times the population that Mendon has, Irondequoit should be doing a lot better in those fundraising efforts.
I thought the same thing though, about how much more the median income is in Mendon compared to Irondequoit....but then I thought....if everybody is so rich in Mendon, why are they putting forth such efforts to raise all those funds for the library project? Wouldn't they just let those rich residents pay for it with their taxes?
Instead, they are making huge efforts to raise money for their building project, and not expecting the taxpayers to fully fund it.
I find that....refreshing.
Irondequoit has the highest taxes in the country as a percentage of assessed value----a very fair gauge.
Speech (below link) starts about 2 minutes in. It's an hour. Watch 30 minutes and see the extremely careful spending. Down to the cell phone minute. Chance of them rigging a roof bid for friends is zero.
State of the Town
I should have clarified my consultant comment.
I meant that I was guessing that Mendon didn't waste $24,000 on a consultant to tell them that they needed more support...
Jax said; "Why does anyone have to FORCE a referendum? Shouldn't they just offer a vote in the first place?"
Totally agree and if it's a good plan, in a central location, that had no tax impact, I bet it would pass.
Rumor -
I heard that "they" might push for King$ Pork again for the library.
One side of the building is still vacant - if the rent was low enough it could be an option.
Again.....RUMOR.....not fact. Just want to clarify that.
Last time King$ Pork was being considered it was for the Senior Center. MJD said that in years to come there would be no more CDBG funds and that was the money that was going to be used for the RENT.
The resident's of Irondequoit already refused a lease deal at King's Park would this TB be arrogant enough to try it again? Hmmmmm
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