By Linda Manderson
Anderson resident
I can’t keep my mouth shut any longer. I worked at Anderson Public Library for 35 years, and it kills me to see the decisions the Library Board and its director must make about which services and, in the long-run, personnel to cut due to budget deficits because of decreased property taxes. This is the only government institution open seven days a week, open more evenings a week than not, open on holidays that other city and county agencies are closed, and offers equal access to information, reading, and entertainment, regardless of income.
In fact, city and county agencies refer people to the library to get forms for divorces, for child custody, to file tax returns. They refer them to library computers to apply for unemployment benefits, create resumes and fill-out job applications online, and to apply for other benefits online. People go to the library because they can’t afford their own home computers, and they use library computers to stay in touch with family members through e-mail, job search, and do research. They check out DVDs and CDs. And of course people read, and they read a lot, which is good because kids in this town need a lot of help in that area. By the way, library employees have never had paid lunch hours or longevity pay. They’ve always paid 3 percent into their PERF retirement, and they’ve had high-deductible health insurance for years. The library knows about budget cuts, and it makes me sick to think they have to cut deeper.
Now the county employees don’t want to give up paid lunch hours. They don’t want to eliminate jobs as they come open through attrition — are you kidding? County judges making $120,000 were unfairly picked on because they didn’t get their stipends, so now they’ve gotten them — seriously? I see an empty trolley and its driver trundling around the city every day — how much does that cost taxpayers? If it’s the employees’ union holding the city and county hostage, three words: General Motors gone. So somebody out there grow some — stand up for the taxpayers in this county and make some real budget cuts that count. The librarians did it.
Letters
Viewpoint: Time for someone to make real budget cuts
Library is the only government institution open seven days a week
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Letter: Public should have say on library space
As taxpayers, does the public have no say-so what happens with their tax dollars? With some proper schedule management, those existing meeting rooms can fulfill everyone’s needs.
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Letter: Election fraud tales turn voters away
Columnist Maureen Hayden asked, “Why did 3 million Hoosiers choose not to vote?” She gave a few reasons but I can think of another one.
How about election fraud? -
Letter: Elected officials should buy insurance
I may be wrong but I thought the city and county were hurting for money, and that’s why services keep getting cut or eliminated. One thing is evident. There is no shortage of money for lawsuits.
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Letter: Source of inequality is not economic
The truth of the collapse of a living-wage economy for working-class America is a social catastrophe and, increasingly, a severe embarrassment to free-market ideology.
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Letter: America following road to tyranny
Global elitists behind our government have methodically been guiding our government toward the New World Order.
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Letter: Let’s work through the problems
On May 14 I attended the county council meeting in hopes that I could understand what is happening in the legislative branch of our Madison County government. What I saw was politics at its worst and I cannot applaud either party.
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Letter: Columnist Brown ignores truth
It’s hard to understand why The Herald Bulletin carries columns by Susan Stamper Brown, who has such a blatant disregard for truth in her conservative propaganda.
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Letter: Taxpayers should thank the ‘few’
Are those who worry about the loss of the wheel tax concerned about the roads or about their jobs? Most of them could care less about people’s needs.
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Letter: Government officials should answer to us
We, the people, have allowed government officials to lead us into the crazy one world order. But, is it working? Well, look at the results.
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Viewpoint: Schools, volunteers reach out to pre-kindergartners, parents
On behalf of Born Learning Connection as service of the United Way of Madison County, I would like to thank all Madison County elementary schools for their generous support in making Blast Off to Kindergarten a countywide success.
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Letter: Public should have say on library space
