Wizard Marks wrote: Here's a little known "secret." On the whole, our city council > members, our county commissioners, and our state and federal > representatives are generally not enthusiastic public library users. > There are, of course, exceptions to that rule of thumb. (I am not > implying that they are not readers.) Having a separate library board, at > the minuscule cost of something like $650/month/each of seven members, > stands us in good stead.
Mark Anderson responds: The cost of the Library Board is a whole lot more than what we pay them. There's the entire budget of the Library Board to consider. One of my problems with the Library Board is just what Wizard implies above: anyone who runs for the Board in the first place is bound to be an enthusiastic library supporter who believes we can never spend too much on their favorite institution. There are many people in the city who are not enthusiastic library users, so why should they be represented only by those who are? Someone who is elected for general government is much more likely to have the amount of interest in the library as the average resident. I think we should have a council in charge of all finances in the city, including that for schools, libraries, parks, and all other Mpls government spending. Only that way can one body weigh decisions as to what areas to cut and add spending. And then we'll know who to keep accountable when spending goes through the roof. The administrative heads need to be devoted and enthusiastic to their area of expertise, but they shouldn't be deciding the level of tax we pay. Mark Anderson Bancroft TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.) ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
