Library backers spend $22,400 to educate voters

Citizens for a New Library have spent nearly $22,400 so far in its campaign urging Coeur d’Alene voters to pass a $3 million bond levy Feb. 1 to build a new downtown library.

That’s compared to the $3,400 the firefighter and law enforcement political action committee has doled out advertising the $7 million public safety bond measure on the same ballot.

Both PACs turned in campaign finance reports Tuesday showing how much money they have raised and spent.

The majority of the $23,000 raised by the library PAC came from the Coeur d’Alene Public Library Foundation. PAC spokesman Denny Davis said the $22,000 foundation contribution is from donations made to the foundation for the construction of a new library.

“We knew we needed to do a lot of education on this issue,” Davis said. “And the foundation was willing to support that.”

The other itemized contributor was Crickets Steakhouse, which gave $657.50 through in-kind donations.

Much of the $6,400 raised by the firefighter and law enforcement PAC came from people who work for these local departments, with donations ranging from $6 to $100.

The Coeur d’Alene Police Officer’s Association donated $750 while PFFI PAC of Nampa donated $500.

The $3 million library bond, which would be paid off over 20 years, would build a new two-story building on a lot across from City Hall.

The land already has been purchased with the help of the city’s urban renewal agency, Lake City Development Corp.

The 42,000-square-foot building would give the library room to double the number of books and other materials, add 24 computers and provide more programs and services.

The $7 million public safety bond, which would be paid off over 10 years, would help the second busiest fire department in the state keep serving Coeur d’Alene’s skyrocketing population.

Specifically, it would build a training center that both the city fire and area law enforcement agencies could use, buy fire trucks and equipment and remodel two fire stations.

The city also would pay off the new fire and police stations, which would open up $2 million in the city’s pocketbook.

That’s money city officials say could be used to hire police and fire staff.

Both measures will appear separately on the ballot and each must get two-thirds voter approval to pass.

Together the two bonds would cost the owner of a $150,000 home about $5.89 a month, or $79.67 annually.