From the Indianapolis Star:
The Johnson County referendum was defeated soundly, with about 74 percent of voters against. Opposition centered largely on the fact that the tab would be shared by those outside the Franklin city limits.
The referendum would have added about $14 a year to the tax bill for a $100,000 home, according to Johnson County library officials.
Dru Smyth, treasurer for Vote Yes for Libraries, said the people made their wishes known.
"The biggest problem was there were too many people who just saw a public entity that's trying to take their money," Smyth said. "They didn't see the benefit for the whole county."
Despite the crushing defeat, Johnson County Public Library Director Bev Martin's comment suggested the library will bring the issue back.
"(Residents told us they) wanted a library that would meet their needs for many years to come," Martin said in a statement. "We still have a responsibility to provide that to them."
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012205090332
From the Johnson County Daily News:
Voters overwhelmingly rejected a proposed library in downtown Franklin by a three-to-one margin.
About 74 percent of those who cast ballots during Tuesday’s primary election voted against the referendum for a $29.9 million library project.
A total of 13,441 people, or 74 percent of the voters who cast ballots, said no to the referendum. The project received 4,668 yes votes, or 26 percent of the total.
A group of taxpayers had opposed the library project on the grounds that it was too big and too expensive. Voters agreed that the overall project cost was too high and the proposed building was too big, Citizens Opposed to the Library Project spokesman Kyle Kasting said.
http://www.dailyjournal.net/view/local_story/Voters_reject_library_plan_1336533834/
