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Consolidated Cities Removed from SB 348
(posted Feb 23)
Senator Mike Young was successful in eliminating consolidated cities from
the Library Planning Service bill (SB348) before the full Senate on Feb
23.
The library planning service bill is an attempt to create a universal fee
and provide service in all 92 counties. The bill was amended last week
by the appropriations committee to include Marion County with a referendum
provision to opt out once a plan is completed and submitted to the State
Library. The State Library's recommendations to the plan will now be advisory.
Speedway was concerned that it could not successfully opt out of the plan
if a referendum was called. "If you have a referendum and we lose,
we have to go by what is ever approved," Young said.
He emphasized the plan does not protect the existence of libraries. Speedway's
library would only be protected for three to five years and then it could
be gone.
Young used a petition with the signatures of 3,103 Speedway residents against
consolidation to make his final plea before the Senate took the vote. "Speedway
is just saying 3,103 people; and they are just asking for your help."
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