Las Vegas Badger Endorsements: Referendums

There are two main referendums in the Las Vegas Valley, one by the City of Henderson and their library system and the Clark County School District and their wanting to upgrade school maintenance and build 2 new schools.
Henderson Libraries:  Henderson Libraries is proposing a 2-cent tax rate increase on the Nov. 6 ballot to help counteract a 30 percent budget decrease.
The rate increase - Question 1 on the ballot - would allow Henderson District Public Libraries to keep all facilities open and continue offering community services.
"I think people are realizing it's not a joke that we will be closing down libraries," said Tom Fay, executive director of the library district. "We don't have the resources to keep them open."
If the initiative doesn't pass, Fay said, Lydia Malcolm Library, 2960 Sunridge Heights Parkway, and the Galleria Library inside the Galleria at Sunset mall, 1300 W. Sunset Road, will be closed. The library inside the Heritage Park Senior Facility, 300 S. Racetrack Road, could be on the chopping block as well.  http://www.lvrj.com/special_sections/voter_guide/2012-voter-guide-henderson-question-libraries-175133991.html
For me, this is an easy and the voters should vote No on the question.  I use the Henderson libraries on a regular basis and for the life of me, i cannot understand why they have so many staff members on duty in addition to a security guard.
The libraries are pretty much all digital, with the librarians only collecting fines and restocking books.  Other than that, all I see them do is sit behind a desk and occasionally helping customers, when asked. Customers check out books themselves, look up on the computer where a book is located and so forth.  I've found the librarians to be rather rude, some of the times and I've never seen them walking around asking people if they need help.
Will they close two libraries?  Sure, if they are incompetent, otherwise I am going to call their bluff.
Endorsement: Vote No on Henderson Library Referendum
The CCSD Building Repair Referendum:
Ballot Question No. 2 asks voters for a six-year property tax rate increase to fund renovations and improvements at aging Clark County schools.
Taxpayers are still paying off the Clark County School District's 1998 bond at a rate of $194 a year for the average home assessed at $100,000. If the increase is approved, the tax rate, which stands at 55 cents for public schools, would increase by about 21 cents per $100 of assessed valuation to generate up to $720 million.
The owner of a home assessed at $100,000 would see a property tax increase of $74.20.  http://www.lvrj.com/special_sections/voter_guide/2012-voter-guide-clark-county-question-2-schools-175133971.html
As a matter of transparency, I am a school teacher in CCSD.
One thing that bothers me is that CCSD is asking voters to pay for significant repairs for schools that are fairly young, as schools go.  When I was going to school, I went to schools that were 40 years old and that was 40 years ago and the school, with some additions is still operating.  I think this true throughout the country.  But we have schools that 10 year old and less in need of serious repair and that's pretty pathetic.
On the positive side of the referendum, the current administration seems to be more in tune with CCSD funds and it's limitations.  Yes, we have an overabundance of administrators and some other wasteful spending, but Dwight Jones has made some cuts and seems to understand reality.
The other positive is that this is a pay as you plan- they are not going to borrow money to pay for the repairs.
The biggest hang up I have with referendum is that the bidding process seems to rigged toward union construction and repair companies.  The bids should be opened to any qualified company- union or not.
In the end, I am going to reluctantly vote yes
Endorsement: Yes on the CCSD referendum