Library users 'heart broken' after tax increase fails

written by: Jeffrey Wolf written by: Heidi McGuire

16 days ago

AURORA - The results aren't final yet, but it appears library users in Aurora are facing a tough chapter in their futures.
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The ballots still need to be certified, but it appears 54 percent have said no to Measure 4A. The issue would have raised property taxes in Aurora and the money would have gone to keeping four libraries open. Without those funds, the libraries will most likely close.

"My heart is broken," Jane Kriner said.

Kriner and her son visit the Mission Viejo library branch every week.

They aren't alone.

"Sometimes I walk over here with my dog. It's always crowded. Computers are always full. It's always full in here and you see people with their kids. That's just a tradition of kids being able to come to the library," Cathy Sanderson said.

Mission Viejo, near East Hampden Avenue and South Chambers Road, is one of the four libraries that will probably close, despite its popularity. The city of Aurora says it just doesn't have enough money to keep them open.

"I think it's a really difficult time. I think it's reflective of the difficult economic circumstances everybody is going through as well as the city," Jason Batchelor, a city of Aurora budget officer, said.

The other three libraries listed for closure are: Chambers Plaza, near East Colfax Avenue and North Chambers Road; Hoffman Heights, near East 14th Avenue and Peoria Street; and Iliff Square, near East Iliff Avenue and Peoria Street.

If the property tax would have passed, it would have generated $12 million a year. That money would have not only kept the four branches open, but could have helped the library system grow next year.

"We both voted for it," Kriner said.

Even though some have said they'd pay out of their pockets to keep the libraries open - that's not an option.

"Under state laws in order to meet the definition of a public library, you can't charge for fees for those services," Batchelor said.

Users don't think closing libraries should be allowed either.

"For a city the size of Aurora to provide it's citizens with three libraries is absolutely ridiculous," Sanderson said.

The city of Aurora says four of their seven libraries will likely close before the end of the year.

In addition, 40 full and part-time jobs will be cut.

The Central library, Tallyn's Reach and Martin Luther King will stay open.