Politics & Government

Birmingham Divided Over Tuesday's $21.5 Million Bond Issue: Find Your Polling Place

Supporters say libraries still play vital roles in communities, but some detractors say the timing isn't right for plan to build "Taj Mahal" of libraries.

Birmingham voters will decide Tuesday on a $21.5 million bond issue to finance demolition of more than half of the old Baldwin Public Library and rebuilding it to provide more meeting space, a children’s library, a coffee cafe and other amenities.

The proposal has both supporters and detractors, the Detroit Free Press reports.

Opponents say it’s a waste of money because it tears down facilities that are still usable, diverts taxes from other needs like road repairs, and comes at a time the role of libraries in communities is shrinking because of ubiquitous online services and ebooks.

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They say supporters of the improvement want to build “the Taj Mahal” of libraries.

Proponents say libraries are still vital community gathering spots. In Birmingham, library usage increased 14 percent over the past decade. The 327,000 visits last year “show that more people are using us all the time,” library director Doug Koschik said.

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The library serves residents of Bloomfield Hills, Beverly Hills and Bingham Farms, where residents pay an annual fee to use the library.

If it’s approved, the owner of a $200,000 home would pay an additional $154 a year in taxes  for 20 years.

That’s a turn-off to Amy Edwards, 25, of a University of Michigan graduate student in social work, who grew up in Birmingham, but now lives in Ferndale. She will graduate soon and she and her fiance are house-hunting, but are ruling out  her hometown.

“We won’t be able to afford that because of the taxes,”she said.

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Find your polling location here.


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