BY ANDY GARDNER
North Country This Week

Three towns that would pay a new library tax if the Massena Public Library referendum passes have hired legal counsel, and the library has filed a notice of claim over a Town of Louisville mailer.

Town taxpayers currently fund the library through a portion of their annual tax payments to the Town of Massena. Under the proposal, the Massena Central School District would collect a library tax from all residents within their boundaries, which includes the Town of Massena and parts of the towns of Louisville, Norfolk and Brasher. Library officials say that this would have residents in Louisville, Norfolk and Brasher would pay their fair share for a library their residents use. Massena Public Library Director Elaine Dunne earlier this year said they are asking for the change to ensure stable funding. They are currently funded primarily by the Town of Massena, but they need more money than they are not getting in order to continue offering the current level of services and staying open for their current hours, Dunne said.

At a library referendum presentation earlier this year, Dunne said the annual tax rates would be about $82 on a $75,000 home in in Brasher, $75 on a $75,000 home in Louisville, $66 on a $75,000 home in Massena and $81 on a $75,000 home in Norfolk.

Louisville Town Supervisor Larry Legault says the three towns have hired Watertown attorney Joseph Russell to represent them.

“We want to make sure … the process is being followed. Also to make sure if it does pass, what legal options the towns might have to have it overturned,” Legault said. “We’re trying to protect the interest of the local taxpayers in the increase of their taxes for this library.”

He said his Town Council has “discussed we’re in opposition” of the library referendum but haven’t passed a formal resolution opposing it.

They did, however, send out a mailer to Louisville town residents that landed them in a little hot water.

“The mailer the Town of Louisville sent out was really all about the tax. What this is going to do to the taxpayers … basically 17 times what they’re paying now,” he said. He said the town now contributes $9,000 annually and the residents will be asked to split a $154,000 annual tax bill.

He said the library hired an attorney who filed a notice of claim against the town for sending out the mailer with public funds. The issue that got them into trouble was a line at the end urging residents to vote against the proposition.

“The rest of the letter was fine to send with taxpayer funds. We were making taxpayers aware the effect this could have on their local taxes,” he said.

The Louisville supervisor said the letter cost the town $398 to send to each resident, and that has been paid by donations. He also noted that signs that have sprung up around Massena and the surrounding area were paid for by a resident and no town funds were used.

Legault said he feels Louisville, Brasher and Norfolk aren’t getting a fair shake.

“They keep talking about Louisville residents use the library and we should pay our fair share. It’s a public library so it’s open to the public. I’m sure people come from out of town to use the library,” he said. “I think the majority of our taxpayers are not in favor of it. There are some people who are in favor of it and support the new tax in the Town of Louisville.”

He believes the three towns around Massena should each be able to vote for themselves on whether or not they want to pay the proposed new library tax.

“Don’t push it on them, he said. “Let the voters in Louisville if they want to accept that additional cost.”

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