President of the Parkland Community Library Board of Directors Karl Siebert spoke with The Press about the Parkland School District's action to adjust the library tax from 0.3 mill to 0.1 mill.

"This is not within the jurisdiction of the school district. We're separate," Siebert said. "They collect the money for us, but our authority comes from the 1998 referendum."

Prior to the referendum, all property owners in the Parkland School District were assessed the same amount each year to support the library.

Library officials requested conversion to millage taxation to be assured of a consistent income for staff, maintenance and supplies to run the library.

The 0.3 mill remains unchanged since it was approved by voters 15 years ago.

If the 0.3 mill continues, a Parkland resident with a $200,000 home would be assessed $60 for the library.

At the district adjusted 0.1 mill, the same property owner would pay $20 toward the library.

The 0.3 mill rate would provide $2.21 million for the library, while the 0.1 rate would bring in $736,856 in 2013-14, a slight increase over the present year.

Although Siebert says he understands schools and municipalities are not allowed a windfall due to reassessment under terms of Act 1, he said the library does not fall under Act 1 regulations.

Siebert says the proper way to change library millage is through a referendum.

If the library proceeds down that path, it would follow a prescriptive time line for collecting signatures and filing during the next election cycle.

Siebert was asked whether the library could work with the school district prior to June 25 final vote on the tax.

"This is a procedural issue. Do they have the authority to make this change? No, they don't," Seibert said. "Therefore there are no negotiations. Let the court figure it out."

He said Attorney Samuel F Feldman is working on the issue on behalf of the library.

In a press release emailed May 24 to The Press, library legal counsel Samuel F. Feldman Esq., stated "Based upon the analysis by special counsel, Ira Weiss, Esq., the decision of Parkland School District is without basis in law and the library tax that is based upon a voter referendum can only be changed by subsequent referendum."