Elwood library budget defeated

Voters turned down the Elwood Public Library's proposed $1.42 million budget at the polls on Tuesday, with 176 "yes" votes to 185 "no" votes.

Library director Michael Squillante said that turnout was slightly more than in previous years.

"I think it was just democracy at work, and you just really never know what a vote is going to be until it's in," Squillante said.

Library board president Randy Koster, who was re-elected unopposed on Tuesday, said the board must now decide whether it wants to present to voters the same budget or a new budget, or simply keep last year's budget in place.

The library had proposed a tax increase of 4.9 percent to pay for increased costs, including higher retirement and benefits costs for its employees.

"We felt as a board we were bringing a very fair budget to the community," Koster said.

Elwood resident Mary Jane Mackey, who serves as co-president of the Elwood Taxpayers Association but was not speaking on the organization's behalf, said she was shocked that the budget failed.

"I think it was the 4.9 [percent tax increase]," she said. "People don't want to see any type of increase anymore."