MASSILLON – Voters will determine whether to continue funding to maintain services offered by the Massillon Public Library.
A five-year, 2.9-mill replacement levy is on the Nov. 4 election ballot to help pay for day-to-day library operations. Property taxes will go up for homeowners if the measure passes.
Jeff Kreger, library director for the past two years, said levy funding is imperative to keep the facility going and maintaining services, such as database programs, audio books and e-books.
“We’re dedicated to supporting our community, and just want to continue providing a service to people,” Kreger said. “Things don’t get cheaper.”
Margy Vogt, a library board member, said the measure has been dubbed among library leaders as the “no-thrill levy.”
“It basically allows us to keep operating as we do now,” she said. “It’s nothing fancy.”
If passed, levy revenue will maintain the current level of services at the library. Without the local funding, the facility, 208 Lincoln Way E, and its branches could not remain open.
Amie Lynn, the library’s finance and administration officer, said levy funding also pays for salaries of the approximately 50 full-time and part-time employees within the library system.
Massillon library tax request
If passed, a property owner would pay $101.50 per year (up from the current $53.08) for every $100,000 of assessed value. The existing levy raises about $1.39 million annually, half of the library’s operating budget.
The library’s current levy collection is split and based on 2010 (1.9 mill) and 2015 (1 mill) property values, Lynn said.
If passed Nov. 4, the replacement measure is estimated to generate approximately $2.35 million annually, according to Lynn.
The Massillon library offers patrons materials from books to DVDs, video games, e-books and audio books, storytime, book clubs and teenage and family programming. It also operates a bookmobile.
“We’re very proud of all the activities that go on at the library, and are (hopeful) to maintain what we have,” Vogt said.
The library also loans free WiFi hotspots and other items such as cake pans. A number of programs for all ages are offered each month from story times to computer classes, technology training and vinyl listening parties.
In addition, newer outreach services provided by the library are levy funded. They include home delivery for books and leased devices, as well as going out to area preschools and nursing homes to provide services.
More than 200 libraries throughout Ohio have local levies to help support operations.
Reach Steven at steven.grazier@indeonline.com. On Twitter: @sgrazierINDE
This article originally appeared on The Independent: Massillon Public Library asking voters to approve replacement levy request
Reporting by Steven M. Grazier, Massillon Independent / The Independent
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
