Lately there has been much talk in the press about specialized districts being scrutinized and consolidation of services to save taxpayers money, such that one would get the sense that a person or persons in charge of taxpayers money and services would tread carefully and do their best to safeguard the public interests in order to protect their own job, be it paid or volunteer.

In the Tribune's March 7 issue Assemblyman McDonough announced that, "the Levittown Public Library has been awarded $137,226 in public library construction funds." Kudos to the assemblyman for his efforts in helping improve our libraries, but who is to say where and on what this money is spent on? Although the aforementioned sum is a lot of money, it appears to be a drop in the bucket compared to what I believe the actual cost of the library update will be. "The funds will enable the Levittown Public Library to reconstruct the lower level of the library to create additional meeting rooms, an ADA compliant bathroom, renovation of existing bathroom, and construction of a new computer lab and computer office." All for $137,226? Not likely, as you know the project was already well underway when this announcement took place, and the burden of payment still truly sits square on the shoulders of the Levittown taxpayers having already seen a million in expenditures associated with this project.

Having been promised no burden to us taxpayers a few months ago due to this reconstruction, I can only speculate why the capital costs section of the library budget has been increased $26,201 after having seen the Capital Improvements line jacked way up just a year or two ago. I can see now how the new computer lab will be filled with computers as well as equipment for the new meeting rooms at no burden to us taxpayers.

Some months ago I heard rumors and made an inquiry through the Tribune concerning a grand rotunda as the centerpiece to this library reconstruction to which the Tribune was informed the rumors were untrue by library officials. I have since learned that maybe my definition of rotunda may have been incorrect. I am told they are actually building a round hallway replete with chandelier, and a tiled floor that has a brass emblem in the center. Is this maybe where Assemblyman McDonough's hard earned efforts are going?

Ryan Duryea