Today’s Program – Lenawee District Library Millage Proposal

Morning Club member, Marilyn Kremer, a board member of the Lenawee District Library introduced today’s speakers, Catrina Ossman (Board President) and Trevor VanValkenburg (Interim Director). Catrina showed members a PowerPoint program. Here are highlights of her presentation: Next Tuesday is the primary election for not only council seats but for the Lenawee District Library millage request that will benefit the library on US223, the Bookmobile in Adrian, and the libraries in Addison, Britton, Clayton, Deerfield and Onsted.. The funding from the county covers approximately 62% of the current budget of $575,000+ which will no longer be the case next year. This library is separate from the Hudson, Adrian, and Tecumseh libraries which are all independent libraries.

On November 14th, 2012 The Lenawee County Library became The Lenawee District Library. Creating a district system is an opportunity to secure the library's finances and to make it grow. On August 6th, 2013, Lenawee residents who live within the district will be asked to vote on a .6 mill levy for the Lenawee District Library. The revenue generated the first year, if passed, will amount to $968,400. It will cost the owner of a home valued at $150K approximately $45/year. The millage will allow the District Library to increase staff levels, put the Bookmobile back on the road and replace the subsidy coming from the county.

Here are some stats from 2012:

·         819 children and teens participated in the summer reading program

·         19,793 new partner registrations were realized

·         175,000 books were checked out

·         There were 9,030 inter-library requests

·         There were 6,147 inter-library loans

·         There are a total of 569 programs offered

·         3,764 people were served by the Bookmobile

Who can vote? No one in the city of Adrian can vote in this election. The district includes: Adrian Township (except portion in Tecumseh Pubic Schools), Cambridge Township, Deerfield Township, Dover Township (except portion in Hudson Area Schools), Fairfield Township, Franklin Township (except portion in Tecumseh Public Schools), Hudson Township (except portion in Hudson Area Schools), Macon Township (except portion in Tecumseh Public Schools), Madison Township, Palmyra Township (except portion in Blissfield Community Schools), Raisin Township (except portion in Tecumseh Public Schools), Rollin Township (except portion in Hudson Area Schools), Rome Township, Tecumseh Township (except portion in Tecumseh Public Schools), and Woodstock Township.

Ballot Language: Lenawee District Library Millage Proposal 0.6 mills for 10 years
Shall the Lenawee District Library be authorized to levy a tax annually upon the taxable value of all property subject to ad valorem taxation within the district of the Lenawee District Library in an amount not to exceed .6 mills ($.06 for each $1,000 of taxable value) for a period of ten (10) years, 2013 through 2022, inclusive, to provide funds for all Library purposes authorized by law? This millage is estimated to provide revenues of $968,400 in the first year of the levy.

For more info go to: www.vote4LDL.weebly.com