|
The Citizens Committee for the Camp Verde Library (CCCVL) is a nonprofit organization formed to ensure that the Camp Verde community gets a larger library. The current library is a little larger than most homes in our area and is providing circulation of approximately 6,000 loan articles a month to its patrons.
CCCVL celebrated its second birthday in February. In the two years of our existence we have put into our savings almost $200,000 for the construction of a new Camp Verde Library. The majority of this money comes because of the generosity of Kay Watkins and her son, Larry Watkins. The rest of the money has been hard-earned through the efforts of many, many volunteers in many fundraisers and special events…Rummage Sales, Sustainable Weekend Classes, Wreath and Gingerbread Contests, and Phantom Balls.
However, funding is coming from other sources, as well: the Yavapai-Apache Nation has donated several thousand dollars for library construction just this month, Impact Fees are still in effect, and the Town supports the building fund for several hundred dollars a year. USDA Rural Development is talking with CCCVL as well as the Town to extend a construction loan. The operative word here is “loan”. The Town, or CCCVL, would have to repay the loan.
This is not impossible! Of the $3.2 million needed to build a 30,000 square foot building to meet our needs now and for several years to come, we have over $800,000 banked! If we were to secure a loan for the needed $2.4 million it is something reasonable for the Town to pay back. Even with NO increase in sales volume, a .25% increase in sales tax would pay the loan.
If the Town of Camp Verde increased sales tax a quarter for every $100 spent, we could start our library now. It wouldn’t increase the cost of food a penny, unless you eat out. If you are eating out it’s a quarter…25 cents…for every 100 dollars you spend. If it dropped on the floor, you might not pick it up. A quarter!
Camp Verde has the lowest sales tax rate in our area, as well as the fewest parks, smallest library, and most run-down Town facilities. If we had the vision to raise the sales tax .5%—a half percent—we could fix all that.
Linda Harkness
President
Citizens Committee for the Camp Verde Library |
