On Election Day, Nov. 5, you can vote at your usual polling place in Kent, either the Town Hall, the Fire Department, or the Elementary School. This year, for the first time, you can also vote early, starting October 26, at the Putnam County Board of Elections, at 25 Old Route 6 in Carmel. The question about the library is on the back of the regular ballot. 
Kent Public Library Referendum
Kent Public Library board members would like to thank the over 900 people who signed petitions to put a referendum question on library funding on the ballot in November. In the last 13 years, inflation has increased by 22%, while the library appropriation from the Town of Kent has increased by only 1/2 of 1%. The library board has worked hard to contain costs but feels that it is now necessary to approach Kent voters for an increase. The referendum will ask for an average increase of $6.01 per household based on an average home value of $255,000. This will bring the amount the average Kent household spends in taxes for the library from $80.15 up to $86.16 per year.
Library Trustee Beth Herr stated that “the library is a vital hub for our community. Keeping it adequately funded assures fine programing, accessible services, and makes Kent more attractive to newcomers.”
Library Treasurer Otto Rominino added that “it’s great to see so many parents bring their preschoolers for “Story Time” at the Kent Public Library. That’s where learning begins.”
Board President Michael Mahoney commented that “library patrons saved over 1.4 million dollars a year by using the Kent Public Library. Patrons of all ages have benefited from the library’s expanded program offerings, its added space for programs and meetings, its electronic resources, and so many other services. We are proud of our library staff and the services we provide to the people of Kent. We continue to be thankful for the town’s support, funds secured and donated by the Friends of the Kent library and grants from New York state but in order to plan for the future and rely on an adequate, sustainable source of funding, it is time for the people of Kent to vote on the library’s budget.”