by Steve Kim
Ridgewood NJ, Steve Kim provided his comments in regards to the Library at the Village Council meeting last evening (click link below).
https://youtu.be/gl_AoshZ23c?t=5716
Library says it can make changes, but it hasn’t. They are stuck on the $7.7 million project, $2 million bonding.
In fact, regardless of the project cost, whatever the scale, Library is asking for a fixed amount of $2 million Village funding, which will be sourced by borrowing and serviced by the taxpayers. The bonding ask should be a percentage of the total project cost, not a fixed dollar amount.
We need Plan B. We have Plan B.
We should go with the Alternate plan.
Then no bonding is needed.
By the way, the President of the Library Foundation commented right after me. I did not have a direct conversation with her as she makes it seem. I did say in a group that if the Library wants to do something above and beyond, it should raise additional funds via private donations. Personally, if I want something done, I post my money. I don’t think to obligate taxpayer funding to realize my personal causes.
She should stick to the truth, as should the rest of the Library folks. They lied in front of Village Council before. They are loose with facts. Why should they be trusted?
The high density developers (one spoke) are motivated to make the library fancier.
That would help them rent out their units.
School + Library + Performing Arts Center (hint: higher rents)
Let’s not forget… Ridgewood taxpayers fund almost all of the operations of the Library. The taxpayers aren’t getting anything for free as these library reimagine proponents make it sound. Bonding for renovation would be an assessment on top of what is already levied regularly.
What do you mean by service by taxpayers. And where are they getting the rest of the funds to complete the job. If they’re asking for 2 million what about the shortfall. Is this going to be another concern regarding funding I thought we have a shortfall in the parking garage . If we have a shortfall at the parking garage and now at the library what’s next what about emergency funding. What happens if the Konomi changes for the worst and three years then why in the village loses a lot of money in their investments, unless it’s may be true about the village bar in large amounts of money at this time because the interest-rate is so low which I understand, but how much did they borrow.
We would like to know where are they borrowing the money from, since the library is operated as it’s own entity . Are they borrowing it from the village, or they borrowed it from the bank answers please. Because why should ask the taxpayers foot the bill for renovations to the library that’s really not that important at this time it’s not an emergency. And to same as the parking garage why should we do taxpayer subsidize what the garage does it make. Answers please .