JACKSON'S LIBRARIES

Patrons of the Riverside Regional Library and Jackson Public Library spoke resoundingly: No merger. The issue was defeated 1,859 to 1,030 in last week's voting.

No doubt the outcome brought disappointment to the library boards, which had worked long and hard to get the message out. But the outcome may have been a simple reaction to dollars and cents as opposed to the sense of the project.

Most taxpayers would agree that having two libraries in Jackson represents a duplication of services. But the merger wasn't just a matter of philosophy. It was an issue of money.

The proposition was tied to a tax increase -- 10 cents per $100 of assessed valuation for taxpayers in the Riverside district and 5 cents more for Jackson library patrons.

The vote was much closer in Jackson -- 500 no to 464 yes -- where the tax increase was considerably lower. Riverside patrons pummeled the merger 1,359 to 556. The additional tax money would have been used to construct and operate a $1.5 million combined library in the city park. The outcome may simply reflect voters anti-tax sentiment.

The tax increase may have been particularly hard for Cape Girardeau residents to swallow, because some of them pay the existing Riverside tax for a facility several miles away plus a fee to use the more accessible Cape Girardeau Public Library. This odd geography is due to a state law, but taxpayers often lash out at the closest government entity. All four Cape Girardeau balloting precincts overwhelmingly voted no.

Ironically, taxpayers may also have been complimenting the two library entities, in effect saying the libraries do a pretty good job with limited resources. It may be a case of "why fix what isn't broken?"

Of course, that could all change at the first of the year. Jackson city offices will relocate into new quarters, leaving the city library all alone. The city library has been struggling to operate on its current levy of 13 cents per $100 assessed valuation. If the public library in Jackson is one day forced to close, Riverside would legally have to absorb Jackson's patrons in a building that is already too small.

Changing circumstances may change voter attitudes. But the prospect of higher taxes remain an imposing challenge.