Paying its fair share

The Gazette Editorial Board

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If the Palo City Council wrote a book about its recent dealings with the Metro Library Network, it might be titled “Sticker Shock.”

The network wants Palo to pay a much higher, per capita annual fee to provide its citizens with access to metro libraries in Cedar Rapids, Hiawatha and Marion than the city has paid in the past. That annual fee will rise over a period of years from $21,227 to $28,352. Previously, Palo offered to reimburse its residents for an annual $25 library card fee, but few residents who bought cards claimed the city money.

So Palo could go from paying very little to paying a lot more. And although that's causing understandable discomfort, we think it's fair.

Palo's proposed payment would bring it more in line with what other local communities pay for network access. And Palo will still pay less, per capita, than the cities that operate the libraries.

People expect high quality library service, but that takes money, and it has to come from somewhere. Palo should step up and pay its fair share.

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