Library gets more than 1,500 petition signatures

More than double needed: county says number is more like 2,000 Milford — Pike County Public Library officials this week revealed that with the help of about 75 volunteers, some 1,500 signatures have been collected from Pike County voters. The petitioners are requesting that the county commissioners place a dedicated library tax question on the Nov. 3 ballot. The final tally of signatures actually submitted to the Board of Elections will be announced after the Aug. 25 deadline. County elections officials will then inspect those petitions to validate signatures. Elections director Gary Orben said Wednesday that a preliminary review of submissions has already begun. “There’s probably more than 2,000 signatures here. They’ve given us over 110 pages, some front and back. There’s a lot of material to look at,” Orben said. The county commissioners, who also comprise the county elections board, will meet Sept. 2 to consider the petitions formally; but Orben said he was confident that the petition drive was successful. “Clearly, the citizens of Pike County have indicated their interest in this quality of life decision,” said Tom Hoff, vice president of the library board. “Based on the feedback received during this petition process, a substantial majority want a vibrant, flourishing countywide library system that gives all residents, especially our kids, access to the resources they need to compete in today’s information age.” Working towards successful passage of the library tax referendum will be the next step in the library’s journey toward the funding they say is necessary to maintain current library service levels and to achieve its plans for growth and countywide expansion. “The support shown for improved and expanded countywide library services has been overwhelming,” says Pike County Public Library Director Ellen Schaffner. “Now, we need voters to say yes on Election Day.” According to a library statement, the Pike library system is now operating at a deficit and county government funding has remained stagnant since the year 2000. Library officials claim that the library tax would cost about $35 per household per year and will provide reliable operating funds that will grow as the county grows. These funds, they say, when combined with state funding, will avoid current and future service cutbacks, allow the addition of improved services and, over the next three to five years, bring the system up to par with other similar counties and allow for the planned new branches in Lehman Township and the Blooming Grove/Palmyra area. “Without a dedicated library tax our public library system will wither and decline from a lack of critical funding,” adds Hoff. “A ‘no’ vote in November will result in library service cuts beginning in 2010. A ‘yes’ vote will provide Pike residents the comprehensive library system they deserve.” For more information about the library, visit www.pcpl.org/everyonebenefits or call 570-296-8211.