Library levy to appear on May ballot
District seeking an increase in operating revenue
Graphic by MICHELLE FARNHAM
MEDINA – The Board of Trustees for the Medina County District Library has decided to place a 1.5-mill levy before voters in the May 2 primary election to fund operations at its six branches.
Medina County commissioners authorized the request Nov. 8, the day of the presidential election, and certified it to the Board of Elections making the library levy the first issue scheduled for the primary ballot.
The levy represents the renewal of an existing 1.25-mill levy to fund library operations plus a 0.25-mill increase that would generate an additional $790,000 a year to fund operations.
Communications Manager Tina Sabol said this is the first time in a quarter century that the library has asked voters to approve a tax increase.
The library operates on an annual budget of about $9.7 million, 60 percent of which is funded by the current levy. However, operating costs exceeded revenue by about $400,000 in 2015 and have put the library in the position of finding additional revenue or trimming operating costs at some future date. The library had a $5.7 million balance at the end of 2015 which allowed it to absorb the budget deficit without cutting services.
MCDL Director Carole Kowell said she does not want to see any cuts.
“MCDL is an award-winning library system and we want to maintain the level of service county residents have come to enjoy and expect,” she said. “We will continue our emphasis on literacy, story time sessions for our youngest members and providing the books, movies and downloads you want when you want them.
“We have also listened to parents and area school districts by providing more STEAM and STEM events and partnering for the Summer Reading Game,” Kowell added. “We want to maintain what residents know and love, because it’s the right thing to do for our community.”
Part of the reason the library is facing a deficit is cuts in state funding. State support for public libraries has dropped 16 percent since 2008 when it was $450.6 million. The Ohio Library Council reports it dropped to $381 million in 2015 and is projected to be down to $379 million this year.
The Medina Library’s share of that state support was about $3.5 million in 2015. The 1.25-mill levy approved by district voters generated about $4.8 million for library operations that year.
The current 1.25-mill levy was last approved by voters in 2007 and expires at the end of 2017.
The district operates branches in Brunswick, Lodi, Seville, next to Buckeye and Highland high schools and has its main branch in downtown Medina. The district also operates a bookmobile that travels to various locations around the county.
Medina County commissioners authorized the request Nov. 8, the day of the presidential election, and certified it to the Board of Elections making the library levy the first issue scheduled for the primary ballot.
The levy represents the renewal of an existing 1.25-mill levy to fund library operations plus a 0.25-mill increase that would generate an additional $790,000 a year to fund operations.
Communications Manager Tina Sabol said this is the first time in a quarter century that the library has asked voters to approve a tax increase.
The library operates on an annual budget of about $9.7 million, 60 percent of which is funded by the current levy. However, operating costs exceeded revenue by about $400,000 in 2015 and have put the library in the position of finding additional revenue or trimming operating costs at some future date. The library had a $5.7 million balance at the end of 2015 which allowed it to absorb the budget deficit without cutting services.
MCDL Director Carole Kowell said she does not want to see any cuts.
“MCDL is an award-winning library system and we want to maintain the level of service county residents have come to enjoy and expect,” she said. “We will continue our emphasis on literacy, story time sessions for our youngest members and providing the books, movies and downloads you want when you want them.
“We have also listened to parents and area school districts by providing more STEAM and STEM events and partnering for the Summer Reading Game,” Kowell added. “We want to maintain what residents know and love, because it’s the right thing to do for our community.”
Part of the reason the library is facing a deficit is cuts in state funding. State support for public libraries has dropped 16 percent since 2008 when it was $450.6 million. The Ohio Library Council reports it dropped to $381 million in 2015 and is projected to be down to $379 million this year.
The Medina Library’s share of that state support was about $3.5 million in 2015. The 1.25-mill levy approved by district voters generated about $4.8 million for library operations that year.
The current 1.25-mill levy was last approved by voters in 2007 and expires at the end of 2017.
The district operates branches in Brunswick, Lodi, Seville, next to Buckeye and Highland high schools and has its main branch in downtown Medina. The district also operates a bookmobile that travels to various locations around the county.