Unfair double library taxation

To the editor: The New York State Legislature recently ended their session without passing a bill to put an end to the double library tax being paid by Chester residents who reside in the Warwick Valley School District. This, despite the fact that 200 residents signed petitions last spring demanding to be removed from the Albert Wisner Library district, and despite the fact that all four local representatives - Assemblywomen Calhoun and Rabbitt and Senators Larkin and Morahan - sponsored legislation expressly for this purpose. While the Senate was able to pass their legislation, the Assembly’s bill (#A09215B) remains hung up “for discussion” in their Libraries and Education Technology Committee. What there is to discuss remains a mystery. It would seem that imposing any form of double tax on citizens of this state should be outlawed. For now, the 1,000 households in the Sugar Loaf area continue to be stuck paying to support two libraries. Shame on the Assembly for allowing this to continue! With Warwick’s proposition to build a new library coming to vote in the near future, residents will be hard hit, for sure. Albany needs to understand that time is of the essence in getting a bill passed. Residents should contact Assemblywoman Patricia Eddington, Chair of the Libraries and Education Technology Committee, at eddingp@assembly.state.ny.us to ask what the holdup is. Mary Marino Creagh Warwick (Sugar Loaf)