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Library levy would cut taxes $1.5 million annually
YOUNGSTOWN
Mahoning County public library officials face the challenge of explaining to voters how a real-estate tax levy, whose ballot language refers to an increase, will actually decrease the tax burden on homeowners.
“The ballot language is misleading,” observed Janet Loew, library communications and public relations director.
By law, Issue 3’s Nov. 4 ballot language must refer to a “renewal and increase” because the library would be renewing an existing 1.8-mill levy and adding 0.6 of a mill, for a total of 2.4 mills.
The 15-branch library system collects 2.8 mills — 1 mill from a levy that passed in 2009 and 1.8 mills from a levy that passed in 2010.
Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County officials plan to let the 1-mill levy expire.
The two levies now generate a combined total of $10,835,974 a year.
If the Nov. 4 measure passes, the total annual levy revenue for the library system will drop to $9,315,141.
“The No. 1 reason people should vote for the library levy is because of the community service the library provides and its inability to be replicated in that exact form by any other institution,” said Heidi Daniel, director of the library system.
Voters should support the levy because the library offers a full range of print and electronic resources, with the e-books and other electronic resources available to library cardholders, anywhere, anytime, free of charge, Daniel said.
“We have qualified, professional staff,” providing unbiased, confidential assistance with research projects; and the libraries offer space for work and Internet access, she added.
“As a business owner, I’m very cognizant as far as how well our community is doing, and having a robust library system is very important for our children and adults alike,” said Danny Catullo, owner of Catullo Prime Meats of Boardman and volunteer levy campaign co-chairman.
“I’m a business owner, and I’m also a young business owner, and I use the library’s resources all the time, not only for my business, but also for the programs that help my son,” said Catullo, 31, whose sons are 7 years old and 16 months old.
“For $7 a month on a $100,000 home, you can come in and take advantage of so many free services and programs,” Loew remarked.
Local real-estate taxes now represent about 58 percent of the library system’s annual operating budget.
The library system will be able to survive on less levy money because no new major construction projects are planned after the Canfield library is replaced at a cost of about $5 million and the main library is renovated at a cost of about $14 million, Daniel said.
The debt-free library already has saved money for these projects, she noted.
The library system also has achieved staffing efficiencies with its newer branches staffed at a single patron service desk, she added.
If the levy fails, the system will be forced to operate on 42 percent of its current budget, resulting in shorter operating hours, closed branches and staff layoffs, and likely postponement of renovations for the main library and the new West Side branch, Daniel said.
Most of the remaining 42 percent consists of state funding. Smaller revenue sources include overdue materials fines, copying fees, grants and philanthropy.
If the Nov. 4 measure fails, the library system could return it to the ballot for passage in May or November 2015, said Susan Merriman, library fiscal officer.
However, if the levy fails this fall, Daniel warned that she would consider making cuts “pretty immediately in preparation for an emergency fiscal situation.”