Saline County judge responds to backlash over proposed library millage cut

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[00:00:02]Well, tonight Saline County Judge Matt Brumley is responding to claims the county illegally approved a measure for the November ballot that would cut the library system's budget by a third.

[00:00:13]>> Channel 7's Andrew Bobly spoke with the judge and with concerned library patrons. She joins us now uh live in our studio with the story. Andrew.

[00:00:22]>> Concerned library patrons point to Amendment 38 of the Arkansas Constitution, which only describes one method to raise or reduce a library tax.

[00:00:31]Whenever 100 or more tax-paying electors file a petition asking for it, a county must put it on the ballot.

[00:00:38]>> We believe that it is unconstitutional to propose a millage change this way and the citizens of Saline County, I believe, are prepared to do whatever it takes to keep this off the ballot.

[00:00:47]>> But does Amendment 38 actually prohibit a county from putting a library tax change on the ballot without a citizen petition initiating it? Saline County Judge Matt Brumley told Channel 7 it does not and that the county library tax was actually raised from 1 mil to its current 1.7 mils by exactly that method being scrutinized now.

[00:01:07]>> The quorum court in 1998 put forth an ordinance to go to a vote of the people to increase to 1.7 mils.

[00:01:16]>> Arkansas tax law says that county quorum courts may levy any tax not otherwise prohibited by law if adopted by voters at the ballot. Library taxes are not explicitly prohibited.

[00:01:26]>> The quorum court is allowed by law to increase, decrease, or abolish through ordinance if the people vote for that.

[00:01:34]>> Cities, like counties, are obligated to put library tax changes on the ballot if 100 or more tax-paying voting citizens petition for it. Brumley questions why Saline County is being put under the microscope when Little Rock and North Little Rock were both able to place library tax changes on the ballot without a petition.

[00:01:51]>> I don't know if that was challenged uh but I find it interesting that this one is and those pass with no problem. It's an issue of financial stewardship and doing the right thing in what we're supposed to do, and that's listen to our citizens and them exercise their opportunity to vote.

[00:02:10]>> Bergren says a legal challenge to the ordinance passed by the quorum court is not off the table as she and other concerned citizens seek to keep the library tax cut off the ballot. On your side, I'm Andrew Mobley.

[00:02:22]>> Okay, Andrew, thanks very much. Uh you can read the draft measure on the Saline County Library's budget for yourself. We posted it on katv.com.