A political action committee has been formed to spearhead the campaign for a 10-year dedicated property tax renewal to support the East Baton Rouge Parish Library system.
The EBR Library PAC, which was formed in August by Emilie Smart and Jo Ellen Kearny, has raised $4,200 to date and will assist the library system with outreach and advocacy during the remaining five weeks of the campaign.
“Unlike campaigns for political candidates, the Library Tax Renewal campaign will be a relatively modest effort, relying heavily on social media and the goodwill and concerted efforts of thousands of Library supporters,” says EBR Library Assistant Director Mary Stein.
Though modest, perhaps, the library campaign is shaping up to be a well-organized effort. So far, the PAC has ordered 500 yard signs, 8,000 fliers, 8,000 bookmarks and 25,000 stickers. A FAQ page has been posted on the library’s site and on the Library PAC’s Facebook page.
Twitter feeds have also launched, and an official kickoff event is scheduled for later this week.
If approved, the 11.1-mil proposed property tax will generate about $44 million next year for the library system. Speaking to the Baton Rouge Press Club last week, Library Director Spencer Watts said if the millage fails, the tax will not automatically revert back to the 10.78-mil rate at which it is currently set. Rather, the library system will have only enough money to keep its doors open for about six months and will have to scramble to try to pass the tax a second time before it goes broke.
Library board officials have characterized the 10-year dedicated tax as a renewal because voters approved an 11.1-mil rate in 1995 and again in 2005. However, in recent years, the millage was lowered to 10.78 mils to reflect higher property values on the tax rolls.
The kickoff event is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Theater Baton Rouge, 7155 Florida Blvd.
—Stephanie Riegel
