Odeen comments on Hudson Area Library: Failed leadership should not place tax burden on citizens

• Diane Odeen

Diane Odeen

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Diane Odeen, Democratic Candidate for the 30th Assembly District, released statements Wednesday, Sept. 5, about the Hudson Area Joint Library and the consequences that past bad leadership will have on area taxpayers.

The Hudson Common Council voted Tuesday night, Sept. 4, to allow St. Croix County levies to increase to cover the deficit in funding the Hudson Area Joint Library.

"This deficit was caused by Hudson area leadership coming up with a short-term solution without properly examining the long-term effects,” said Odeen. “They thought that if local municipalities joined together and the city of Hudson purchased the building, they would have a self-sustaining library. They didn’t anticipate the increased costs and enormous burden on the taxpayer.”

For the last decade, the Hudson Library has received too little in local revenue to be exempt from the county levy.

As a result, the four participating municipalities will see their taxes go up next year to pay for the library.

“City of Hudson taxpayers could see their taxes almost double just to pay for this oversight,” Odeen said. “There is no question that the Hudson area deserves a library that efficiently provides quality services to our communities. The Hudson area also deserves leaders that will listen to the voters and make decisions based on long-term goals, and not get distracted by short-term solutions that seem to be a good idea at the time.”

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