For episode twenty-one, I spoke with Sam Fuqua about the proposed library district for the Boulder Public Library System. Sam was a member of the Boulder Library Commission for five years, was an elected member of the BVSD school board of education for eight years, and worked at KGNU for twenty years as news director and station manager. He is now helping with an organization called the Boulder Library Champions which is spearheading an effort to change the governance of the library to a library district model. This is a common way that libraries are governed and funded in Colorado. The proposed library district will be a new district that encompasses the city of Boulder, Gunbarrel, Niwot, Eldorado Springs, among other areas of Boulder County that are adjacent to the city including areas to the west such as Sunshine Canyon and Jamestown. The library system is currently funded by the City of Boulder’s general budget which is subject to the fluctuations of a revenue model that is based on sales tax and so the library’s budget must continuously compete with other city departments every year. In contrast, the library district will be funded by a new property tax that will provide a more stable funding model with increased funds to provide better staffing, services, and facilities.
After the interview was over, Sam expressed concern that many of the details of the proposed library district have yet to be finalized and may still change substantially between now and when we vote on the tax increase in November. For the latest developments on the library district proposal, please visit Boulder Library Champions.