$20.8M Great Neck Library bond rejected

Great Neck residents voted Tuesday night to reject a $20.8 million bond proposal for renovating and expanding the Great Neck Library's main branch, officials said.

Voters turned down the expansion plan by a vote of 2,924 to 1,286, said Great Neck Library director Jane Marino.

"We're disappointed, obviously," Marino said after the polls closed Tuesday night. "We thought we had an opportunity to build a nice building for the community . . . I think it's an example of the economic times."

The plan was to reconfigure the inside of the library and add 8,645 square feet to the 47,125-square-foot building, Marino said. Plans included expanding the children's collection area, increasing the audio/visual space area, and creating a computer training room.

For a house valued at $500,000, the bond would have added $39.95 annually to property taxes if the interest rate were 4 percent and $45.43 if the rate were 5.5 percent.

Ralene Adler, a former library trustee, has said in the past that she favors a smaller renovation project and said that would have community support.

The board would have to decide what to do next, Marino said. It could replace the building's air-conditioning system, using $500,000 from its in-hand main building fund. It could choose a less costly plan of renovation or attempt again to gain support for the complete plan.

"We got defeated quite soundly," Marino said. "The board has to take that into consideration."

The next library board meeting is Nov. 22, Marino said.