To the Editor:

I write to encourage Massena taxpayers to contact Town of Massena Board members regarding the upcoming Massena Library referendum. In conjunction with the Massena Central School Budget vote on May 21, 2024, a second vote will decide how the library will be funded. Now is the time for voters to ask Town Council members how they will handle the current Library funding in future annual Town budgets, in the event that the library referendum passes.   

These are the possibilities: 

Option 1  

The Board continues to include $504,133, the 2024 Library budget allocation, in its 2025 budget and simply reallocates this money to other budget line items, or
Option 2  

The Board reduces the 2025 budget by $504,133, the 2024 Library budget allocation, with the intent to collect less taxes and pass this savings on to the Town of Massena taxpayers by reducing their bills.   

There is a caveat to this option, however. The Board may have this intention now but are not legally obligated to honor their commitment to not include these funds in future budgets. In that instance the only recourse to voters is to not re-elect Board members who vote to use this money in the 2025 budget. (Link to board member term expiration dates:  https://massena.us/472/Town-Board)

Taxpayers need to know how the Town will handle the over half-million dollars currently allocated to the Library if the referendum passes and the Library becomes independent. A commitment by the Town Board on the future use of the Library’s current funding is critical for complete transparency prior to the vote. Thus, taxpayers can determine how their vote will impact their town taxes.    

Please urge the Board to make this decision soon and communicate their decision to the public.

Susan M. Gray
Massena