Now that the library tax has passed… Shame on you, MetroCouncil!
Shame on you for publicly criticizing the EBRP Library, a department of your own city/parish government — and one that has done everything right. Are you so afraid of losing a vote that you will throw the good things in your district under the bus?
Every one of you have a library in your district. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU. When one of your tax-hating constituents called you to complain about the millage for the library, did you even THINK about telling them that the library is something in the district that should be supported? When they opined that the library gets “too much” money, did you for a second consider telling them that it just looks like that because the library manages their money so well — and that you would work to make ALL departments more fiscally responsible. Did you even ONCE speak in the Library’s favor when a constituent complained?
The EBRP Library exemplifies what local government should be. It’s one C/P agency that manages its money very well and spends its allotted taxpayer dollars on 1st rate materials, environments and accessibility for the citizens of EBRP. It meets the current needs of the citizens as it looks forward to anticipate their future needs (and it’s been VERY good at that). It’s an agency that people appreciate — no long lines to stand in, employees who actually offer to provide assistance (and who are easy to locate), nice “offices” with comfortable seating and current magazines, interesting things to see and do.
You all know this (and agree with it!) and you still threw the Library, its administration and staff under the bus — all for a few votes that you MIGHT get next year or the year after. You should be ashamed of yourselves.
