Library millage increase to offset increasing costs

A county-wide ballot proposal by the Presque Isle District Library will ask voters to approve a quarter-mill increase to offset increasing cost of operations, according to district library director Jan Stevenson. If approved, an additional quarter-of-a-mill (25 cents on each $1,000 of taxable value) would be in place from 2006 to 2014, and run concurrent with the current approved millage of 0.75 mills, scheduled for renewal in 2008. The 0.25 mills will generate additional operating revenue in the amount of $144,672 the first year. Voters head to the polls for the primary election, August 8. ?The reason we are asking for it is because so many things have been cut back,? said Stevenson. Presque Isle District Library (PIDL) includes branches in Grand Lake, Onaway, Posen, and Rogers City.

STEVENSON SAID one of several revenue losses has come from the reduction in taxes from the Headlee Rollback, which has gone from 0.75 mills to 0.70 mills. Over the last three years, state aid also has been reduced by 40 percent, and future funding is uncertain. ?In 2004, state aid was down 14 percent. Last year it was down 13 percent. This year it looks like it is going to be 16.9,? said Stevenson. Penal fines were down 13 percent last year, and likely will be down another 10 percent in 2006, she said. Coupled with a reduction in revenue are increases across the board in the daily operation of the facilities. There have been increases in rent, insurance, utilities, office and library supplies, as well as fuel, which has had an impact across the board.

BECA– USE OF record gas prices, shipping has tripled, said Stevenson. A shelving unit that once costs $30 to deliver now is in the $200 range. She also said book companies that had offered free shipping now have to charge for the service. ?It is costing more to run the library with no additional dollars coming in,? said Stevenson. Grant revenue is up, she said, but that is the only thing keeping programming alive. The average property

owner will pay $12.50 per year, or less than 3.5 cents a day, states an informational fact sheet entitled ?Presque Isle Library Encourages You to Vote on August 8, 2006.? Library officials want voters to realize that more than half of the county?s residents are registered borrowers of the PIDL, and that it is not just a place to check out books. PIDL provides Internet access (almost 20 computers overall) in all four of its branches, videos, DVDs, audio books, newspapers and magazines, as well as programs. Nearly 7,000 people attended more than 386 programs for children, young adults, adults and seniors in 2005.

LIBRARY BOARD chairman Beach Hall said, ?The Friends of the Library at all four branches and the library board felt the only way we could grow is with additional funding. The additional quarter-of-a-mill would do that. We have funds from (the estates of) Avery Johnson and Henry (and Peggy) Hoffman but those funds are not for operations as much as they are for collections, computers.? The increase also would make it easier to expand programs and services. ?We would like to do a whole bunch of things we just don’t have the money to do, to expand patron services,? said Hall. He would like to see the district library expand services in Hawks, Huron Beach, and maybe at elderly housing in the area. PIDL employs 15 people, including seven full-time workers.