Dear Editor,

I have read with sadness of the dreadful financial calamity that has befallen Gilpin County and its towns. I know the elected officials are wrestling with terribly difficult decisions during this period, and I certainly don’t envy them. But the citizens have choices to make, too, with a number of mill levy issues confronting voters this November. 

Without being present to review all the details, I can still declare my unequivocal support for issue 6A, for a dedicated mill levy to support the Gilpin County Public Library. It’s a modest impact on the homeowners of Gilpin County--about $25 annually, the cost of one hardcover book--but with a tremendous bang for those bucks. Even non-users should appreciate the children’s programming, the exhibit and meeting space (in mid-county, no less!), the computer access that the Library is now struggling to provide. The mill levy is able to grow to account for inflation, but is strictly limited in the amount of that growth so as to safeguard this level of ongoing financial support at a reasonable level. The Library has been a big part of the way of life that has made Gilpin County so special. And though I know advocates for one government service or another can sometimes be overly alarmist, it is clear that without this funding the Library will die. Don’t let that happen; vote yes on 6A. 

Roger Baker
Prescott Valley, AZ