On Wednesday, June 24 Montague residents will head to the polls to decide whether to build a new library building in Turners Falls. This represents a historic opportunity to accept a competitive grant of $11.3 million dollars through the Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program, money that we have already paid into with our taxes, which we are now able to bring back home to Montague and invest directly in revitalizing downtown Turners Falls and contributing to the economic development of the town.
As Montague Economic and Industrial Development Corporation Chair Robert Steinberg noted in his April 27 letter to the editor “There’s only one way to reduce everyone’s tax burden. Attract new ratables.” Making Montague a more attractive place to live, a more desirable place for businesses to invest, and expanding the tax base is our best route to creating a fiscally responsible town while also contributing to the community’s capacity to meet its residents’ needs for social connectedness, personal and educational development, increasing the quality of municipal services, and providing a library that is accessible to all.
The beloved Carnegie building unfortunately would require renovation and an addition more costly than the construction of a new building to make it accessible and sufficiently large enough to meet the community’s needs. Fortunately, Montague has an excellent history of securing successful reuse of historic buildings that preserve their historic character without sacrificing economic development.
In a time when remote work, access to tech, and digital connectivity are increasingly important, a modern, functional, accessible library building downtown is an invaluable asset in fostering a dynamic workforce and making sure everyone has access to the tools they need to succeed. In changing times it can be difficult for a town to make an investment in itself, but the uncertainty we may face ahead is exactly why I believe now is the time to take advantage of this opportunity to accept $11.3 million dollars from the state and invest in a flourishing, resilient town. Please join me in voting “yes” on June 24.
Jake Goldman
Turners Falls