As the August Election approaches, discussions in the community increase on the proposed Public Library Tax Levy that voters in the Branson and Hollister School District will see on the ballot.
The proposed levy would be $0.18 for every $100 of assessed valuation that would convert the Taneyhills Library in Branson from a privately funded to a publicly funded facility.
During an interview recently on KRZK's "Ozarks Now" program as well as an interview for a feature story for Ozarks First, Library Director Marcia Schempher-Carlock says the funds are needed to keep services going for the library in addition to eventually looking at a new facility. Schempher-Carlock adds that the proposed $0.18 levy is lower than for other Library Districts in the state including Springfield. Library officials have stated that if this tax is not passed, they will have to close down by the end of the year.
Carmen Lawson, a Taney County resident who opposes the tax, says in the Ozarks First Feature that it is not the library that she and others are opposed to, it is the property tax that has no sunset on it to fund the library that is the issue.
The complete feature can be found on the Ozarks First Website.
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