Thu Mar 11 2010
by Eric Marotta
Editor
Akron -- Residents served by the Akron-Summit County Library system, including those in Nordonia Hills, will likely be asked in May to approve a 1.4-mill replacement levy to fund library operations for the next five years.
If placed on the ballot and approved by voters, property owners will continue to pay $49 per year per $100,000 of their home's value, according to Carla Davis, spokesperson for the library district.
On Jan. 25, Summit County Council unanimously agreed to ask the Summit County Fiscal Office to certify how much the levy would generate. The request is the final step before approving the measure for the May 4 ballot.
Davis said Jan. 28 the levy will bring $12.77 million to the library system each year. The current levy brings in about $12 million per year. Homeowners would pay the same amount as now due to some increased commercial property values in the district, she said.
The current five-year levy, approved by voters in 2004, expires at the end of the year. It covers roughly half of the cost of operating the library system, including salaries, utility bills, maintenance and other such expenses. The remaining half of operating funds is provided by the state.
The proposed levy is scheduled to be discussed in Council's finance committee Feb. 1 and could be approved for the ballot at Council's Feb. 8 meeting. The filing deadline for the May 4 election is Feb. 18.
Davis said state funding for the library has gone from $14.8 million in 2008 to $11.2 million this year. She said state funding is expected to drop to $10.6 million in 2011.
"We're not doing this to make up for the cuts," Davis said, adding the library has been forced to cut some services and has reduced its staff due to attrition. "Like everybody else, we're tightening our belts."
Should voters reject the levy, Davis said the November general election would be the library system's last chance to have a levy approved in time to receive revenue in 2011.
She said passage of a levy this year is essential.
"Just imagine if 50 percent of your household income disappears," she said. "It would be pretty devastating to our system and it would have a great impact on our community."
The Akron-Summit County Public Library has 18 branches, including its main branch in downtown Akron and branches in Tallmadge and Nordonia Hills.
The district employs 414 workers, 281 of whom are full-time. It also operates two bookmobiles.
"This is not a new tax," Davis said. "We want to continue to provide the community with the same level of quality service we're providing now."
E-mail: emarotta@recordpub.com
Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3171
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