EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the third in a series of columns by Dorr Township Library Board President Rachel Vote explaining the one-mill request on the Aug. 6 special election ballot.
I think it’s important to explain the amount of money the library is requesting in relationship to the current budget and to show the monetary value of using the Dorr Township Library for an “average” household.
The current annual library budget is about $190,000. This includes a $50,000 appropriation from the township, $70,000 from the current 0.3-mill levy, penal fines, state aid payments and payments for overdue materials.
Unfortunately, the library cannot continue to operate on less than a third of a mill. The library includes penal fines in the annual budget as needed revenue to keep the checkbook in the black, but penal fines are not a guaranteed form of revenue, nor is the amount consistent. State aid funding also depends on the state’s budget for the year. Library funding is often slashed when states need to make cuts to balance the budget.
The library often needs to move funds from the book, AV, and periodical budgets to cover necessary operations expenses.
All of these factors have contributed to the Library Board deciding there is a need for an increase in millage funding.
The library is asking voters for one mill on the Aug. 6 ballot in a special election. One mill would give the library a budget of $235,000 a year. The additional $45,000 (over the $190,000 mentioned above) would allow the library to offer more programs, buy more patron requested materials, update the plumbing in the restrooms, extend hours of operation, and offer “Hoopla,” a very popular digital resource that offers a wider range of newer content to patrons.
With passage of the ballot proposal, the library would no longer need the $50,000 contribution from the township to continue operating. The $50,000 could be used in other areas, such as dust control, road repairs or park improvements. However, if the library returns the $50,000 to the township, it will have to replace that $50,000 through these millage funds.
So what is the approximate monthly value of the library for an “average” family in Dorr? For this example, we will say an average family has two children and one adult who use the library programs and services.
Say this family lives in a house with a taxable value of $100,000 (home value of $200,000). The adult attends one art program a month, checks out three books, and uses the computer to access Ancestry.com. The children check out 15 books a month, attend kids zooming, and attend story time.
The average book price on Amazon.com is approximately $10. If this family checked out 18 books in a month, the savings of borrowing books from the library rather than purchasing them is $180. Ancestry.com costs $19.99 a month, and an art class is roughly $15 per session. Paying for a weekly activity for a child varies greatly depending on the activity.
In one month, this family received more than $215 in goods and services by using the library. Through property taxes, the family pays $8.34 a month for a 1.0 mill in library funding.
So it makes sense to approve the increase in funding and vote YES, if you (or someone you know) check out at least one book a month, attend one program a month, or use the computers to access a database once a month.
So voters arguably could be spending money in order to save money.
Why are you asking for such a long term (10 years)? There is an awful lot that can change economically in ten years. How was the library funded before the first millage was approved? You’re right the “general fund.” So with the first approval this frees up more money for the township to spend as they wish. The people spoke in the last election and sounded defeated the proposal. So the library asks the taxpayer for more money so the township board can free up another $50,000 for the general fund to spend as they wish. I can’t speak for you, however, most people are taxed very hard already and you want them to shoulder this additional tax… Enough already!
Thank you, Ms. Vote for providing some very good information on the library’s funding. Much in your column was new to me and great to know.
I am a user of our library and would surely miss it should it close its doors. I agree more funding could be an asset to the library for the reasons Ms Vote shared in this article. I still feel the Board has made a very bad choice to ask for so much. Just as Mr Wilkins stated, the last millage of .8 was strongly rejected by the voters. Has the Board done any public polling, asking the voters about this before they settled on 1 mill? I haven’t heard much support at school, Dicks market, Project Hope, or on the ball fields for this millage. I live and work in this township and hear what the voters are saying. Unfortunately, I must stand by my opinion that this was an irresponsible decision. The Board has put too much at risk. Why didn’t they start with a .6 millage? If more than. 6 is desired they could have asked for more at the next regularly scheduled election. Unfortunately though, the decision has been made and we must wait and see what happens.
Incidentally, how will the special election (with a $6,000+ price tag) be paid for? Does this come out of the library budget or the township budget?
Most people don’t have the first idea of the convoluted ways in which libraries are funded or the legislation that governs that financing. Anyone’s best source of accurate information is not here or in speculation. The best source is your library board or your library director. They deal with the policies and funding on a regular basis and can address your concerns.
Ms Mandaville,
We may not be quite as smart as you however Millages are very straight forward. Millage rate and length of time. Monies from the general fund are very straight forward. This initiative will raise $235,000 and the township will withdrawal their current contribution ($50,000) and spend it in their general budget. Classic tax and spend. In addition the “Library Board Members” are elected officials and are suppose to represent their constituents. So if they are representing the voter and not serving themselves why would they insult our intelligence and bring us this millage request in such a short time span. I apologize if I have misunderstood how a millage works.
Cheers!
John
John, with respect, millages are more straightforward in areas other than library funding. Libraries deal with fluctuating sources that include state aid, penal fines, revenue sharing, and the good old millage that is adversely affected by the Headlee Amendment and local TIFAs (Tax Incremental Financing Authorities) such as Downtown Development Authorities and Renaissance Zones. In Dorr you also have the complication of an appropriation from the township itself. Most of these sources of funding for the library are not stable. I’m no smarter than anyone else. I just have a lot of years as director of the Henika Library where I had to juggle the unstable funding for many years until we passed a millage that we, erroneously, thought would provide a continuing stable base. Headlee eroded it, and the Wayland DDA further tapped into our funding. Penal fines are always iffy, and state aid never lives up to its mandate in the MI state constitution.
To reiterate, your best source of accurate information is your elected library board. They are accountable to you and should graciously provide you with all the data you need to make your voting decision.
I consider myself to be a fairly intelligent person. I was able to go online and educate myself about library funding in Michigan. Yes, it is a little convoluted, but nothing too difficult for the average voter to get a decent understanding.
My concern is not with how the library is funded. My concern is the lack of support I am hearing in town as well as the fact that many voters are angry the library is asking for so much. In the last election voters approved a road millage, a fire millage and a higher recycling surcharge. Many residents just cannot afford another tax right now. Many are just stupefied that the library is asking for 1 mill with the knowledge that we have just had a huge tax hike in Dorr. Many residents are just plain worried about the future of our library. This is a decent forum for this discussion as many residents read townbroadcast. Ms Vote is writing a weekly article to help pass the millage and the voters have a chance to ask questions via comments. Many residents have the opinions I have voiced. Ms Vote has an opportunity to address the questions of many people at once on a widely read online news source.
If it’s not roads, then libraries are the “pawns” used to increase taxes. Sadly, the library didn’t start as quickly as those who escaped the “big cities for a rural setting on a gravel road” finally had enough dust.
A road committee formed and did get a road millage passed. Will that millage get all gravel roads paved? Probably not.
The library has known for sometime they needed a millage… they tried once (again, a last-minute effort) and it failed. Did they keep trying, form a committee to make their needs known?
Unless you keep the voters constantly aware of your needs you get lost in the shuffle.
I will say there is a group in the township that has no use for a library. Not sure how organized they still are. The library officials, if they really want this millage, have to become more vocal, yes it may be too late, there must be a couple of people willing to get a thousand fliers mailed, through their donation to the cause.
The library board members are going door to door to deliver flyers next week Saturday if anyone would like to help get the word out we would surely appreciate it!
Also if anyone has any questions for the board you’re more than welcome to come to our board meetings, we meet on the third Monday of the month, the next meeting is July 18th.
The library board meets on the third Monday of the month, the next meting is July 18th, at 7:00. The board welcomes any and all questions or concerns.
We are also going door to door next Saturday, July 13, if anyone is willing to help we’d greatly appreciate it!