A Message from the President, by John Putnam
Pikes Peak Genealogical Society Newsletter,
Volume 30, Number 4, October-December 2010
Volume 30, Number 4, October-December 2010
There is no question that we are living in interesting times. With the continued recessionary effects, we as individuals and our government leaders continue to look for solutions to either solve our current challenges or to soften them. Many of us are navigating these daunting issues for the first time.
For the past year as your president, I have reported the many good things about PPGS and our ability to sustain ourselves in these interesting times. Unfortunately, there is one very serious threat on the horizon on which I would like to comment – the potential impacts that Amendments 60 and 61 and Proposition 101 will have on the Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD), our strategic partner. As the fall election campaign heats up, I am sure the written and media coverage on these ballot issues will overwhelm us. It is not my intent to discuss the specifics of each of the three issues, but rather to share with you the estimated impact these could have on PPLD.
These three items intend to reduce the revenues that our state, local, and special districts have to spend. They assume that revenue reductions will give individuals more money to spend to get us out of recession as well as putting government on a spending “diet.” Based upon a recent resolution against these issues by the PPLD Board of Trustees, they estimate these changes would reduce library district revenues by $7.9 million next year with increases thereafter or about 30 percent of its revenue. If such a reduction is voted, how would they balance the budget? So far, there are no specific cuts in services, but certainly cuts of that magnitude would result in one of several outcomes: close library branches, reduce staff, reduce hours, reduce new book purchases, implement user fees, etc. As an organization closely tied to PPLD, these changes would likely require us to change operations and perhaps increase our dues or cut expenses. Remember, these are only the impacts to PPLD and PPGS – schools, city, state, and special districts would likely face a reduction of $1 billion in revenues.
How can you help? First, everyone needs to understand each of these initiatives. Second, you need to cast your No votes. Third, you need to encourage your friends and relatives who vote to oppose these measures. Finally, we all need to consider either campaigning against or donating to the effort to kill these measures.
How can you help? First, everyone needs to understand each of these initiatives. Second, you need to cast your No votes. Third, you need to encourage your friends and relatives who vote to oppose these measures. Finally, we all need to consider either campaigning against or donating to the effort to kill these measures.
Recognizing that reduced taxes are a topic of frequent conversation in our political system, we need to make certain that any “unintended consequences” of such measures are fully considered before voting yes. In my opinion, these measures have such great impact that we should oppose their passage in their current form.
Going forward, I believe that individually and collectively our society is moving from a mentality of abundance to a recognition that we have limited resources and have to use them diligently. As we prepare to discuss our budget in November, we should recognize that we too need to make sure that we are making the most of our scarce financial resources.
