All Neighbors in Saint Croix County, WI
Top Neighbors: The magic behind the mirrors
You will never have to pay to be listed as a top neighbor. Period. That important detail clarified, let's discuss how we arrive at two "top neighbors" for a given region:
Localism is a bustling collection of hyper-local communities, and the top neighbors should reflect those members who are most active. When ranking users in a given region, several factors are considered. To get your foot in the proverbial door, you need to have posted at least one "Localism" article or photo for the region.
The very best way to quickly rise to #1 is to post high-quality local content. Keeping a steady strem of incoming posts and photos will massively tilt the scales in your favor.
What doesn't count toward the top neighbor ranking? ActiveRain points and community sponsorships. The top neighbor spots will always go to the most active members in a region. We want to create a level playing field that encourages the growth of communities — talent and dedication are required to win the day.
The current plan for acquisition, conversion and equipment at this site would cost an estimated $9.5 million, or $2.5 million less than a new facility. The Hudson Area Library Foundation estimates that half this cost could be raised from private sources, such as individual philanthropists, organizations, foundations and corporations. This is the same model that was used when Stillwater build their new library. As for the citizens and taxpayers footing the rest of the bill, this plan would add $24 per $100,000 of assessed property value to the taxes; $9 would go toward the purchase, $16 would go toward ongoing operating costs. The residents of the Town of Troy, which is not part of the municipalities operating the library, would pay approximately $6 per $100,000. 
Also for consideration is the opportunity cost of taking this building off the tax roll, and the cost of lost tax revenue over time. The NMC building has a tax assessed value of $3,559,100, generating $51,226 in yearly tax revenue (2007 tax report). To this I say that a library is one public service that supports education and growth of the community. It attracts well-educated and ambitious citizens, and supports local programs of all kinds. The library carries these intangible benefits whose benefits far outweigh the loss of any tax revenue.
