McKinley Memorial Library seeks approval of 1.75-mill continuous levy

October 17, 2014 at 12:00a.m.

niles

The director of the McKinley Memorial Library says declining revenue from all sources has left the library no choice but to submit a 1.75-mill continuous levy on the Nov. 4 ballot.

The levy would replace a five-year 1.5-mill levy that expires at the end of 2015.

“We’re the only library in Trumbull County that does not have a continuing operating levy,” said Director Patrick Finan.

“Property re-evaluation in 2011 reduced all property value in the Niles School District by 8 percent, and many of the commercial and industrial properties have been reduced in value by either closing or downsizing,” Finan said. “In addition, the revenue we’re getting from our existing levy has been in annual decline.”

Finan said the 1.5-mill issue passed in 2010 was expected to generate $397,000, but its yearly revenue has since dropped to $340,000. The 1.75-mill issue would generate $400,000 when collections begin in 2016, and will replace the current 1.5 mills, which will expire regardless of the vote’s outcome next year.

“People won’t be paying for two millage issues,” the director said.

Finan said the library’s budget for 2014 is $1,154,000, of which the levy’s share is 29 percent. The largest share, 68 percent, comes from the state with the remainder derived from “miscellaneous reimbursements,” but decisions in Columbus have accelerated McKinley’s funding shortfall.

The state has significantly slashed its allocation to all public libraries and does not appear in any mood to restore the previous amounts. Under previous law, Ohio allocated more than 2 percent of its general revenue fund to the libraries. The legislature eventually reduced the amount to 1.66 percent. For the McKinley Library, the cut has been substantial.

“In 2001, we received [more than] $1.24 million from the state, but this year we’re only going to receive $784,000,” Finan said, adding that the figure is nearly the same amount the state allocated to the library in 1996.

Finan said the library, located inside the National McKinley Birthplace Memorial on North Main Street, will have to consider several options should voters be unreceptive to the increased millage issue.

“We still have one more year under the current millage, but if we are unsuccessful, purchase of new computer equipment will have to be deferred and we’ll have to reduce operating hours, library programming and our materials budget,” the director said.

In addition to Finan, the library employs nine full-time and nine part-time circulation staff workers.