Anne Scarffe, Gilpin County. During a “Save our Library” virtual committee meeting on September 29 organized by Alisa Witt, the committee discussed outreach regarding a tax increase before voters in November. More than 130 signs, flyers and banners will be used on highly traveled Gilpin County roadways to encourage approval of 6A on the ballot, with use of Next Door and Facebook social media to provide information to undecided voters.

The library is asking for a $397,000 tax increase equivalent to .90 increase in the mill levy from .239 mills. Information and a mill levy calculator based on your home’s assessed value are available on the library’s website: https://www.gilpinlibrary.org/mill-levy-faqs.html. It has been estimated that this would increase taxes by $20 to $40 per year. This tax increase will be permanent, not temporary.

The library has needed the mill levy for years, since 85 percent of county finances has come from gambling, and those revenues have flattened out, along with COVID-19 closing down casinos, and County expenses have increased. Myths about mis-management of County funds have been an informational point the group is trying to dispel, as County budgets have been transparent and honest. 

Several participants have written letters to the editor for area newspapers to highlight specifics of what the library means to them like “on behalf of our children,” the importance to county artists and a no-cost meeting place for county republicans, democrats, meditation, homeowner’s associations and poets. 

County residents will see signs and banners on high traffic areas of the county to bring 6A approval to the attention of voters. Discussion of how lengthy the November ballot is and that local issues are on the reverse lower side of the ballot brought comments. The ballot is scheduled to be mailed to Colorado voters on October 9, and it was suggested to use local ‘dropboxes’ instead of USPS mailboxes.

Donations for the “Save our Library” committee can be sent to P.O. Box 177, Rollinsville, CO., 80474. Library Director Michael Carlson can be contacted at mcarlson@gilpincounty.org or by phone 303-582-0161 for more information.