From The Joplin Globe:
Voters in Newton County on Tuesday overwhelmingly rejected a proposed property tax increase to pay for a nearly $7 million expansion to the Neosho-Newton County Library.
The margin was 1,687 “no” votes to 940 “yes” votes.
As she sat in the hallway of the Newton County Courthouse with several members of her staff, library Director Ginny Ray could not hide her disappointment.
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Ray said the library board and staff will be faced with many challenges moving forward.
“Obviously we’re going to have to rethink our future and make some hard decisions,” she said.
Along with the proposed expansion, Ray said the increased levy was to fund some deferred maintenance projects in the existing building.
“I don’t know what we’re going to do,” she said. “There are issues with the roof and sewer lines that we can’t put off for much longer. We’re going to have to take a hard look at the budget and we may have to cut some services and buy fewer materials, because we have to keep the building open.”
Neosho, MO is located south of Joplin, MO and part of the Joplin MSA.
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