Tiffanie Fisher wants to TAX Hoboken Public Library (VIDEO)

"...LET 'EM PAY TAXES"

An 1 hour and 45 minutes into Wednesday's council meeting, Councilwoman Fisher stunned the public with her declaration that Hoboken Public Library should be forced to pay taxes. Why? 

Apparently, the library just purchased two adjacent properties on 5th street for an expansion,. (Sounds wonderful to me.) So, the administration put up two resolutions to cancel  4th quarter property tax payments for each lot. As most Hoboken residents know (except for Councilwoman Fisher) the library is a public building and does not pay taxes to itself. According to B.A. Marks, the assessed value of the property purchased by the library was $2.1M, and the "lost" tax revenue for going from private to public ownership is $33K. Of course, the "lost" tax revenue- a drop in the Hoboken tax bucket- gives our community an expanded library with more public capacity and increased utility.  

Watch the video. Fisher's argument that the library ought to pay the $33,000 4th quarter taxes on the 2 properties is not philosophical; it's punitive. The library board had the audacity to approve its own expansion and to acquire property without consulting her and therefore, their "independence" should be rewarded with a $33,000 tax bill. 

Forget Fisher's over-reach.  Libraries are our greatest public institutions, the great equalizers in American society. All people-- all children, can access the  tools and resources to study, research, educate, learn, even entertain themselves.   

Fisher's notion that the library- a public institution of educational equality-- should suffer economic damage for not kissing the Council's ring is hideous elitism.  The library should expand if it wants or needs to expand. It serves the public.  

Fisher seemed to agree with Mike Russo's unbelievable statement: "we give a lot of money every year-- not because they need it, but because we have to." 

Has Mike Russo ever been inside of the library? The building is aged, requires constant maintenance, and was only recently retrofitted for ADA compliance. (GA doesn't  know if it's fully compliant yet) The building as I remember it from spending a good chunk of my daughter's childhood there, is over-utilized for the number of users. Auxiliary spaces for public events (like reading to toddlers) were small, limiting events and group size. Costs on technology upgrades and maintenance, for books and other media purchases and replacement are ongoing.  

What kind of Councilperson complains about funding a public library?   

GA is disgusted. Education is the great equalizer, and libraries are where children learn to love books.  I learned to love books in a Queens N.Y. Public Library. My daughter learned to love books here in Hoboken's Public Library. In fact. we used to fill bags, literally. Her record: 35 books at once.  It was a big deal to her when she got her own library card. 

So, if a municipality is going to spend money anywhere, let it be on our library.     

Here is an excerpt transcribed from the above clip:

Fisher: "So let em pay taxes...Is there some sort of legal requirement that says they don't have to pay taxes?"

Russo: "No, as a matter of fact we could charge them for a lot of things..."

B.A. Marks:  "It's my understanding that the library is city-owned property so, the library purchasing this property by extension... those are, you can't tax yourself. So those  also are city-owned properties."

Fisher: "But they're..."

Giattino: (interrupting) "... but the library purchased them..."

B.A. Marks: "The library is an arm of municipal government."

Russo:  "All purchasing through the City of Hoboken has to be approved through the City Council..."

Fisher:  "That's the thing. If they're independent enough to approve a major capital acquisition, they're independent enough that they should be able to pay their own taxes."

And, because of this noxious exchange, Councilman DeFusco suggested pulling the resolutions to cancel the $33,000 4th Quarter Taxes on the (2) properties purchased by the library. However, Councilman Ramos called the vote.

Fisher did ask whether the library had compensated the Multi-Service Center for its temporary relocation.

What does the 2nd ward Councilwoman have against libraries?