LEWISTON – A proposed 1 percent property tax cap would hurt Maine’s libraries, according to the Lewiston Library Board of Trustees.

The board at its Oct. 13 board meeting urged voters to turn down the ballot question.

Board Chairman Jan Philips said the library already serves many people, even though its budget is already tight.

“If the Palesky tax-cap referendum passes, there will be little or no local money for such service and no state appropriations available to help public libraries,” Philips said.

Those services include preschool development, education, computer and Internet access, providing a safe study center for young people, and archiving historical document collections.

The board passed a resolution calling for meaningful tax reform in Maine but saying the proposed cap would have many unintended consequences that could hurt the quality of life in Lewiston.

“We feel it is poorly crafted, and while we understand that many citizens want tax relief, this is not the right vehicle to accomplish that goal,” Philips said.