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Elk Grove library opposes plan to form district

Elk Grove Village Public Library officials are opposed to former library board trustee Tim Burns' proposal to create a new library district to serve residents in unincorporated areas.

Library board President Gil Schumm blasted Burns' idea as a "scheme" that would raise property taxes and squander the current library's resources. The current board would refuse to contract with the new district to provide library services, Schumm said in a two-and-a-half page news release sent out by library officials this week.

Burns, a 6-year library trustee until he was elected to the Elk Grove Township School District 59 board this year, is spearheading an effort to create a new library district in a 2.5-square-mile unincorporated area between Elk Grove Village and Des Plaines.

If approved by voters, the new district would levy property taxes and use an estimated $350,000 a year in proceeds to contract with the Elk Grove Village or Des Plaines municipal libraries, allowing the 12,500 residents who live in the unincorporated area to be able to use library services without paying a nonresident fee.

Burns proposed the idea of expanding library service to unincorporated residents late last year, particularly the 1,000 students who attend Byrd, Rupley, Salt Creek and Grove schools in District 59 but don't have a library to go to.

While Elk Grove library officials have declared their opposition to Burns' plan, Des Plaines library officials earlier last month came out in support of it.

Schumm said he thinks unincorporated residents would be better served through an agreement between the library and school district to serve families with students, or through the current system, where nonresidents can pay $200 a year to get a library card.

The library board last month approved a measure allowing that fee to be paid in a 12-month installment plan.

Supporters of the new library district are collecting signatures to get a referendum question on the November 2016 ballot.

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Tim Burns
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