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Library Takes Action to Place Levy on Ballot
Special to The Truth
The
Toledo Lucas County Public Library's Board of Trustees
unanimously approved a resolution during its regular board
meeting on June 23, 2016 requesting that the Lucas County
Board of Commissioners place an operating levy on the
November 2016 ballot.
The levy
is extremely important to the Library as it provides more
than half of the operating budget. "Strong libraries build
strong communities, and the Library demonstrates value by
continuously delivering a strong return on investment. This
decision further shows our commitment to growing futures,
creating opportunity, and transforming lives," said Clyde
Scoles, director, Toledo Lucas County Public Library.
With the
approval of the Library's Board of Trustees, the
resolution will be delivered to the Lucas County Board of
Commissioners for them to place a 3.7 mill, five-year
operating levy on the November 8, 2016 ballot. The 2.9 mills
would renew the existing levy and the 0.8 mill would be
additional. The current levy, which was approved by voters
in 2012, was a 2.9 mill referendum, which expires on Dec.
31, 2017.
The
additional 0.8 mill is expected to restore what our
customers lost due to funding cuts and inadequate state
funding. Scoles, who also serves as the Library's Fiscal
Officer, further remarked, "We would not come to our
customers for assistance in passing this levy unless it was
absolutely necessary. This levy represents more than half of
the Library's operating budget, with the state's public
library fund contributing the rest. The state contribution
has decreased substantially, and we are currently operating
at 1997 funding levels. We need to improve upon this to
continue the Library service the residents of Lucas County
have long enjoyed and depend on."
For the
owner of a $100,000 home, the 0.8 mill increase amounts to
eight cents a day. Currently, this homeowner pays $87.50 per
year based on the present 2.9 mill levy renewal. With the
additional 0.8 mill increase, for a proposed 3.7 mills
total, this same homeowner will pay $116.81 annually.
"We're
doing great things to help restore vitality to the many and
diverse communities in Toledo and northwest Ohio -
our branch libraries are iconic in the neighborhoods they
serve and represent beacons of hope. With 68 percent of the
population being proud card holders, this levy is essential
to protecting and growing their investment," said Scoles.
A recent
study conducted for the Library by Dr. Howard Fleeter, a
noted economist from Columbus, Ohio, found that the Library
provides an economic value of nearly $4 in benefits for
every $1 invested.
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