Stop dividing community with new library fees

Published on Wednesday, June 24, 2009 9:01 AM MST

Editor:

I have one question for the Safford city and Mr. Short. If the citizens of Safford were charged the same amount for their library card as the county residents, would they think it was a good idea? After all, they use the library, too. Are the people of Safford being charged extra taxes for the services they use, such as the library, the park and the pool? If not, why shouldn’t they be charged the same prices as people living in the county?

Maybe $165 is a few extra dollars for Mr. Short; but for a single parent with two kids working part time, it’s a matter of survival. If you have a choice of paying for groceries or paying for a library card, I think the food wins out. Not everyone in Safford makes a lot of money; with very few good paying jobs, just putting food on the table is a struggle. The few extra dollars for a library card is out of the question. Should libraries be for the wealthy only? I think the powers that be need a reality check.

Instead of dividing the community, try working together to bring good paying jobs into the area. Instead of carrying out personal grudges, work together to make the entire area a place light industry wants to relocate. Do something positive for the community; don’t divide it with separate fees for certain people.

Sherry English

Graham County

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Comments

12 comment(s)

split wrote on Jul 9, 2009 5:11 PM:

" I would raise the over all amout for everyone not just Thatcher. Cut the increase in half and let everyone pay it you would make more in the long run. That way it is not just Thatcher that is complaining, everyone can then you can just blame it on economy. "

Truth wrote on Jul 2, 2009 7:27 AM:

" To Boycott Safford
You asked for how much the library receives from the federa govt. Of the $838 budget last year, $231,200 dollars and 34 cents came from grants from the fed, and foundations. There is the truth, now....keep shopping in Safford so Safford can raise the other 600,000 for your free library "

Yeah right wrote on Jul 1, 2009 9:07 PM:

" If you are waiting on truth from the Safford City Council then you better get comfy it will be awhile. Seriously residents paid $650,000 in taxes to the library that was out of thier pockets? No it was from the whole Gila Valley. But residents don't see that. We all pay taxes somewhere and we don't all use the things our taxes pay for "that's life" as my mom would tell me.Put reasonable fees on things for everyone and then it's fair. "

Boycott Safford wrote on Jun 26, 2009 6:58 AM:

" The Boycott idea was not only Linda's.

I am the original Boycott Safford! It was presented as the only way I saw to get those in charge to see the consequences of their library fees schedule.

I am still waiting for someone to give us the real story about how much of our library's funds come from The federal Government. Come on guys...We want the truth. "

Linda Stavast wrote on Jun 25, 2009 2:11 PM:

" TO JMS:

I agree with your comment to me. I am a caring person, and I hate to sound hateful about the "boycott Safford" garbage. I really don't want to punish the local business owners. It is a message to the politicians. The money is still being spent in the Gila Valley, so someone benefits. Thankfully, after a month of chaos in this community, I am seeing a lot of changes, both in Safford and in Thatcher. I think everyone will be happy soon. Thatcher and Safford councils have been working hard this month. "

JoePublic wrote on Jun 24, 2009 8:09 PM:

" Yes, interesting point. Why is there no good paying job here? I have noticed that the only folks that appear to be doing well is if they are affliated with the government in some way.
All the encouragement when I was young; get a degree kid, you'll go far.
Ha! I have a Management degree and I have a small landscaping service. Oh boy, pushing a lawnmower at my age.
Woopie, the great American dream.
NOT!
Can't even get enough money together to get out of this place...to where there might be opportunity.
Ughhhhhhh! "

Good Idea wrote on Jun 24, 2009 4:35 PM:

" People living in Safford also shop and dine in Thatcher, so Thatcher needs to start kicking in more money in supporting the library.

Myles has the right idea--maybe it is time to combine all 3 cities and realize economies of scale in government. Better services at a lower cost. All of the cities are intertwined in their economies and residents of one pay taxes in the others by shipping and eating in those cities. "

JMS wrote on Jun 24, 2009 2:45 PM:

" Linda Stavast, You come across as an intelligent caring person untill you start talking "boycott Safford"
Do you not care about your Thatcher neighbors that own and work in Safford businesses? Safford residents support the many fine Thatcher businesses while receivng zero benifits from our taxes paid there. Please be fair and get off the hate Safford bandwagon. "

to Myles wrote on Jun 24, 2009 1:51 PM:

" I like the ideaof combining, but I can't imagine it ever happening. Think of all the poor poor politicians would be put out of work. "

Linda Stavast wrote on Jun 24, 2009 11:54 AM:

" Sherry, I agree with you. I would love to see more high paying jobs here in the community rather than an increase of taxes. The key to a better community is an excellent eduacational system, attracting families and businesses. I hate to see the Gila Valley divided as well. What "Yes Sherrie" fails to realize that we do not HAVE to shop in their town. WE have not cheated Safford of anything, we have given them everything with our money. IF the library was funded from property tax, then the story is different. "

Myles Johnson wrote on Jun 24, 2009 11:52 AM:

" Maybe it is time to amalgamate all the communities into one entity. In this way there would be no bickering about who pays what. One Library system one pool system and only one mayor! "

Yes Sherrie wrote on Jun 24, 2009 11:35 AM:

" The citizens of Safford are paying more as a percentage of their taxes that are collected on a library than you are. I am glad you asked. Perhaps you would like to donate to the library. Safford Citizens paid about $650,000 last year for the library and you paid nothing. Safford citizens were cheated out of $650,000 that could have been used for other badly needed repairs, new amenities for their citizens or reduced taxes. "

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