Change percentage of votes needed

To the editor:

The editorial opposing the super majority for bond issue elections in the case of the Johnson County Jail brings memories of similar bond issue elections to provide a new library for Cedar Rapids in the 1960s and 70s.

The votes were far above 50 percent, but did not reach the magic 60 percent. Five elections were unsuccessful. The angel which saved the project finally was the Hall-Perrine Foundation which agreed to make the payments on industrial bonds. It required a change in state law to permit the use of these bonds for a public purpose. The result was the library on First Street which was damaged in the flood.

Now we have another new library which meets the city's needs much better. In this recent case it required assistance from FEMA. If a bond issue election is over 55 percent more than once, it is pretty clear that the voters realize the need for the facility being proposed. At that point, if the proponents are willing to try again, their persistence should be rewarded by reducing the required percentage from 60 percent to 50 percent

Kay Halloran

Cedar Rapids