Vote 'no' on new Villa Park library

Why $25 million for a new Villa Park library?

The current request is $10 million dollars more then the newly built Addison library, and that facility is 6,000 square feet larger than the proposed Villa Park Library; Addison also held private fund raisers, successfully minimized the cost to taxpayers and also found a way to finance the project without adding a new tax to homeowners.

The Villa Park Library has done none of this. Many Villa Park residents I have spoken with have told me we don't need a new library.

It occurs to me that we could spend a lot less to make some repairs and do some updating, and be able to service the community just fine without having to double the library property taxes.

The Villa Park Library Board has not, in my estimation, seriously considered any other plans or locations. There are other locations within the village that may better suit a new library at a significantly lower cost.

Approximately 80 percent of the new space in the library plan is not for books. Other amenities such as meeting rooms, a coffee shop and a drive-up book return are planned.

We already have a Villa Park Community Center; we don't need to convert the library into one. Additionally, how many Villa Park residents can afford a new tax?

We have people losing their homes and their jobs right now. We are paying $4 a gallon for gas and food costs are up; Yet the library board thinks this is a good time to raise your taxes so they can have more meeting rooms and a coffee shop?

Our residents deserve better then an overpriced and unnecessary library.

I urge everyone to vote no to the two Villa Park library questions on the November ballot.

Joey DeTomaso

Villa Park