Mill Levy Election Resolution

A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE DOUGLAS COUNTY LIBRARIES MILL LEVY ELECTION IN 2008

WHEREAS, the Douglas County Libraries (the "Library") is a library district duly organized in 1990 and existing pursuant to the provisions of Part 1 of Article 90 of Title 24 of the Colorado Revised Statutes, as amended ("C.R.S.") for the purpose of providing library services within the boundaries of Douglas County, Colorado; and

WHEREAS, the Library provides free and equal opportunity to all in access to information; and

WHEREAS, strong public libraries are a tradition in Douglas County, and help ensure the quality of life of our residents; and

WHEREAS, it is important to maintain the quality of library services established to date, and to ensure equity of library services across the county; and

WHEREAS, libraries have a significant effect on the education and development of Douglas County's children; and

WHEREAS, the provision of books, library materials, Internet and computer access benefits all the libraries and patrons of the entire library district; and

WHEREAS, the communities of Parker and Lone Tree have made commitments to donate sufficient land for new libraries in Parker and Lone Tree; and

WHEREAS, the residents of the Castle Pines area have no permanent library building at all; and

WHEREAS, the residents of Highlands Ranch and Castle Rock are also in need of building renovations to accommodate demand; and

WHEREAS, the mill levy increase will result in a monthly increase of just 66 cents per $100,000 of market value for residences, and

WHEREAS, the library has not had a tax increase in 12 years, and has provided thoughtful stewardship of public dollars,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED to place before the voters within the Douglas County Libraries district at the November, 2008 general election, the following question:

SHALL DOUGLAS COUNTY LIBRARIES' TAXES BE INCREASED BY $4,676,000 ANNUALLY IN THE FIRST YEAR (2009) AND EACH YEAR THEREAFTER BY WHATEVER ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS ARE RAISED FROM A PROPERTY TAX MILL LEVY IMPOSED AT AN INITIAL RATE OF 1 (ONE) MILL FOR A PERIOD OF TWENTY YEARS, WITH A REQUIRED REDUCTION IN SUCH MILL LEVY TO A RATE OF 0.6 MILLS THEREAFTER, ALL FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONSTRUCTING, IMPROVING AND OPERATING LIBRARY FACILITIES INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF NEW LIBRARIES IN PARKER, LONE TREE AND CASTLE PINES AND IMPROVEMENTS IN FACILITIES AT CASTLE ROCK AND HIGHLANDS RANCH; SHALL THE REVENUES FROM SUCH TAXES BE FIRST APPLIED TO CAPITAL LEASES FOR THE TWENTY-YEAR PERIOD TO ENABLE DOUGLAS COUNTY LIBRARIES TO ACHIEVE ITS CONSTRUCTION AND IMPROVEMENT PROJECT PLAN; AND SHALL THE REVENUES FROM SUCH TAXES AND THE INVESTMENT EARNINGS THEREON CONSTITUTE A VOTER-APPROVED REVENUE CHANGE WITHIN THE MEANING OF ARTICLE X, SECTION 20 OF THE COLORADO CONSTITUTION AND AN EXCEPTION TO THE LIMITATION SET FORTH IN SECTION 29-1-301 OF THE COLORADO REVISED STATUTES?