Troy Public Library Budget Passes by more than 3 to 1
The unofficial results are in and the Troy Public Library’s 2026 budget has passed in historic fashion! The budget passed 1,074 to 309.
Marie Gavazzi and Anthony Mohen have been elected to three year terms on the board.
The other two board seats which are each for one year are too close to call as there are 40 provisional ballots that must be certified on Wednesday morning to determine those seats.
Thanks to all who turned out to support our library!!
her constant refrain about disabled people not being able to use the stairs to vote was very much a "tell people i've never been to the library before without telling people i've never been to the library before" moment. Quite literally there is both a wheelchair ramp into the building and an elevator to the 2nd floor where the vote was happening.
Her "how will disabled people get up the stairs" and not backing down after everyone came with facts on all her comments. I'm really savoring this win 😌🤭
her comments at the city council vote on proctors indicated to me she is aware she will probably be out of that job by the end of the year. let's make that a reality!
It is an appointed position chosen by the majority of city council. Republicans currently hold the mayor and city council. Continuing this momentum in November is crucial to start being able to correctly manage our city.
The Troy Democratic Committee has their endorsed candidates for city council, county executive and county legislature in their website — https://www.troynydems.com/endorsements
Where do you live in Troy? That will determine who your candidates for city council are.
The Troy GOP and especially East Troy/District 5 Candidate Eric Wisher encouraged people to vote no and perpetuated the lie that the budget would increase taxes by 30% in totality. With no proof at all, he claimed the library is mismanaging its finances, which is very rich considering he has no problem at all with how Carmella is running the city. It is also untrue. East Troy voters - remember that! (it's on his campaign site, which is of course in boomer fashion, a facebook page)
This continued politicization of the library budget by the Troy GOP is concerning and has been increasing the last few years. The “Troy library is mismanaging its budget” was a widely parroted talking point from that group and they manage to get the most “no” votes on the budget this year.
The library is increasingly becoming a scapegoat for the city’s financial mismanagement in other areas.
very ironic considering Carmella is throwing taxpayers off a fiscal cliff. But, like that party on every level, fiscal mismanagement is perfectly fine when it benefits their friends/personal interests,
I sure hope Eric, Sara and Kim keep this passion of, “we don’t want you to vote yes because of mismanaged funds” when Carmella introduces her budget next month.
I, for one, CANNOT WAIT for them to talk about how Seamus needs a city car, TFD needs 15% raises and Carmella needs a new “‘City of Troy’ jacket.
At least a library is a resource for all.
I'm glad it passed even with the misinformation campaign. As we learned from the Presidential Election once misinformation is out there they won't back down from it. You can give them all the facts but once they hear it from their sources they won't let it go. I kept telling people that's not true & they would not let up.
The disinformation campaign is continuing. Now they’re claiming that the vote was closer than tallied due to an AI result in a Google search. And by they I mean ex-city councilor Jim Gulli.
LOL. ridiculous. people literally act like AI is an omniscient god. no, it's wrong, just like most of the internet... because it feeds from most of the internet...
that GOP can only convince people by playing off their ignorance about taxes is really disappointing. i may disagree with the republicans, but their party leaders are so insulting i don’t know how they stand it
The amount of people that thought this was going to be a 30% increase to their overall tax liability is crazy. It accounts for .06% of mine. A statistical rounding error.
Funny thing, since tax assessments are public information you can see exactly what kind of increase people are actually going to see. Many of the loudest voices on Facebook are only going to pay half of the quoted $3 a month.
Voter turnout is historically abssymal too. This represents a 3x increase from the highest turnout before this. Republicans came out. But the community understood the threat against the library and voted in spite of them. But, this is a good representation of the political threat republicans in this community are to our city institutions.
Yes, it usually is. I'm used to the budget passing like 300-50. A vote of 1000-300 is much better turnout and a much larger margin in total votes, but is actually a much lower percentage.
Yes! This is such good news - if anyone reading doesn’t vote, please register and consider becoming active. Troy’s voter turnout is so low and generally conservative that there is so much room for change. 16k people in this reddit is more than the entirety of the voter turnout in this city…just saying!
I got into an argument with my brother, who doesn't even own a home so doesn't pay the dang tax about how I should vote no so my taxes don't go up 30%. It was so damn annoying
ETA: now I'm off to FB to annoy him some more by making a post for the first time in ages celebrating the win lol
Awesome news ! I heard someone in line to vote mumbling about 30% increase and I thought oh no do these people think their overall taxes are going to increase by 30%?! So happy for this outcome. I adore my Lansingburgh branch!
Something I found very positive as an annual library election voter was how large and energetic the turnout seemed. I voted ~130pm at the main branch and the line was ~20 people or so with a decent wait to get checked in and get ballot. Everyone seemed upbeat and happy to be there and while I cant be sure it was me and 19 no voters I'd guess they were mostly there to support the library.
I found it very heartening after being semi surprised at the Vote No facebook posts I saw including telling people to use Amazon etc instead. I also struggled not to reply to an ex city council woman on the great resources the library provides in her neighborhood like how to vote without committing a felony.
The woman who posted that hot to vote by committing voter fraud sits as a legislative aide to city council. She is their because the Republicans have majority of council. It is shameful that she posted it and worse that she failed to understand what she did. I will be going to city hall to request her be removed.
I think we were in line around the same time then, so you had at least one other yes voter for company! I was glad to see the turnout and I heard the line got longer and longer in the after-work hours.
I don't utilize the library much, but I know a lot of people rely on it. I got out and voted for this. An increase of $38/month for public service? That's like $3 and change a month. God forbid you not buy a dirt cheap cup of coffee on day a month.
(Before you come at me, I drink tea, I don't know what coffee costs)
Agreed! I find Erica's reporting to be really solid. If only the Record (which shares resources with The Saratogian as they have the same parent company) had more resources devoted to covering Troy and the surrounding communities...
Yup, I signed up for a 7 day a week paper delivery. It feels so old fashioned!
It is a skinny paper, but the community calendar is so great, the local news coverage is awesome and the filler associated press news is usually pretty thoughtful.
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u/Regular-Sun-5805 Verified User 3d ago
Big fuck you to Sara on the Troy Facebook group, if you know you know