Why is the Library on the ballot?
The Library is asking voters to approve a 5-year renewal of the Library’s one-mill levy. This is the same levy term and millage that the voters approved in 2010 and 2014.
Will my taxes go up if the levy is renewed?
No. Your tax stays the same. Even if your property is reassessed, the tax stays the same until your property is sold.
What is the tax rate now?
Our current operating levy is one millage. This means the owner of a home in Granville pays just under $34.00 for every $100,000 of the home’s assessed value. You can find the amount of tax you pay by looking at the Licking County Auditor’s page and doing a search using OnTrac which can be accessed at this link: https://www.lcounty.com/depts/auditor/. Library staff would be glad to help you if need it.
Why is your levy listed under the Granville Exempted Village School District?
Although the Ohio Revised Code allows the Granville Public Library to receive funding from a property tax, it is not a taxing authority. The board of trustees of our library has limited scope of what it is legally able to approve, per the Ohio Revised Code (3375.66). Because the library board is appointed, not elected, the library must have a taxing authority to put a levy initiative on the ballot. In our case it is the Granville Exempted Village School District (GEVSD). Their elected board must approve tax levies and bond levies on behalf of the Granville Public Library. The public library, in return, has a contract for service in place with the GEVSD that provides library service to the entire population that resides within the school district. The GEVSD approves the levy, places it on the ballot, receives the tax income on the library’s behalf. The school district takes no money from this levy. We are grateful that they manage this levy on our behalf. Please contact the library if you would like to see the contract for service or want to know more about the GEVSD functioning as its taxing authority.
How will this levy be worded on my ballot?
The ballot language will read as follows:
PROPOSED TAX LEVY (RENEWAL)
GRANVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY
A renewal of a tax to benefit the Granville Public Library for the purpose of current expenses at a rate not to exceed one (1) mill for each one dollar of valuation, which amounts to ten cents ($0.10) for each one hundred dollars of valuation, for a period of five (5) years, commencing in 2020, first due in calendar year 2021.
What will you do with the funds should the levy pass?
This is an operating levy which means we can only use the funds for daily operations such as buying the materials that are available for borrowing, paying staff, purchasing supplies and the maintenance and operation of the library building.
State funding for public libraries in Ohio has been relatively flat, and we are not asking voters to approve additional millage. The funds provided by this levy will be used to continue the exceptional library service the residents of Granville have enjoyed for many years.
When is the last day to register to vote?
The voter registration for the November 5, 2019 general election is Tuesday, October 7, 2019. You can register to vote at the Granville Public Library. Here is a link for more information including checking to see if you are already registered and registering to vote online: https://licking.ohioboe.com/voter-registration-information/
What did the Library do with the last levy?
The library does have an amount in savings, which is common in public agencies, and ours is aligned with best practices for an organization of our size and budget. As a tax-supported organization, only major capital improvements, such as our renovation and addition in 2007, are reasons to carry a debt. Our reserve funds represent our entire capacity to pay for major repairs, upgrades and ongoing expenses. Also, reserve funds are kept assuring that if there is an economic downturn that impacts state funding and levy proceeds—similar to what happened in 2008 and 2009-- the library will function normally at a time when more people need and use public libraries.
How much does the levy generate?
The levy provides the Library with just over $400,000, annually. This amount represents about 40% of our library’s annual operating budget.
What happens if the levy renewal request is turned down?
The levy constitutes 40% of the Library’s budget. Other than the state’s Public Library Fund, other sources of funding for public libraries are not available. Therefore, cuts in library services would be required. Examples of likely cuts would be: drastic cuts in open days and hours, minimal programming, purchasing of new material will decrease, online offerings will be eliminated.
Where does the rest of the library’s budget come from?
Primarily, the state of Ohio’s Public Library Fund. This Fund has been in place since the 1980s, but it can vary each time the State Assembly approves a new budget. The State of Ohio funds their public libraries to assure that we have the best public libraries in the nation. If having modern, dynamic, full-service public libraries is important to you, please convey this to your elected state officials. The state’s public library budget can be changed every odd-numbered year when the Biennium Budget is passed.
It is important to know that every dollar spent on public library has a return on investment many times over, and that vibrant public libraries help support literacy, continued community engagement, job search help and small business support. We also receive funding from several local organizations, such as Granville Community Foundation grants, the Licking Community Foundation and donations from generous library users. The Friends of the Granville Public Library also give a sizable gift to the community every year, and their funds support our year-round programming, our summer reading initiatives, new technology, like our 3D printers and our Learn Something Collection.
Where can I go for more information?
Anita Carroll, library director, would be glad to answer any questions you might have. You can contact her by email at acarroll@granvillelibrary.org or by phone at 740-587-0196, ext. 101
The Library is asking voters to approve a 5-year renewal of the Library’s one-mill levy. This is the same levy term and millage that the voters approved in 2010 and 2014.
Will my taxes go up if the levy is renewed?
No. Your tax stays the same. Even if your property is reassessed, the tax stays the same until your property is sold.
What is the tax rate now?
Our current operating levy is one millage. This means the owner of a home in Granville pays just under $34.00 for every $100,000 of the home’s assessed value. You can find the amount of tax you pay by looking at the Licking County Auditor’s page and doing a search using OnTrac which can be accessed at this link: https://www.lcounty.com/depts/auditor/. Library staff would be glad to help you if need it.
Why is your levy listed under the Granville Exempted Village School District?
Although the Ohio Revised Code allows the Granville Public Library to receive funding from a property tax, it is not a taxing authority. The board of trustees of our library has limited scope of what it is legally able to approve, per the Ohio Revised Code (3375.66). Because the library board is appointed, not elected, the library must have a taxing authority to put a levy initiative on the ballot. In our case it is the Granville Exempted Village School District (GEVSD). Their elected board must approve tax levies and bond levies on behalf of the Granville Public Library. The public library, in return, has a contract for service in place with the GEVSD that provides library service to the entire population that resides within the school district. The GEVSD approves the levy, places it on the ballot, receives the tax income on the library’s behalf. The school district takes no money from this levy. We are grateful that they manage this levy on our behalf. Please contact the library if you would like to see the contract for service or want to know more about the GEVSD functioning as its taxing authority.
How will this levy be worded on my ballot?
The ballot language will read as follows:
PROPOSED TAX LEVY (RENEWAL)
GRANVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY
A renewal of a tax to benefit the Granville Public Library for the purpose of current expenses at a rate not to exceed one (1) mill for each one dollar of valuation, which amounts to ten cents ($0.10) for each one hundred dollars of valuation, for a period of five (5) years, commencing in 2020, first due in calendar year 2021.
What will you do with the funds should the levy pass?
This is an operating levy which means we can only use the funds for daily operations such as buying the materials that are available for borrowing, paying staff, purchasing supplies and the maintenance and operation of the library building.
State funding for public libraries in Ohio has been relatively flat, and we are not asking voters to approve additional millage. The funds provided by this levy will be used to continue the exceptional library service the residents of Granville have enjoyed for many years.
When is the last day to register to vote?
The voter registration for the November 5, 2019 general election is Tuesday, October 7, 2019. You can register to vote at the Granville Public Library. Here is a link for more information including checking to see if you are already registered and registering to vote online: https://licking.ohioboe.com/voter-registration-information/
What did the Library do with the last levy?
- Maintained a treasured, long-standing institution of Granville, both by maintaining our beautiful facility but also assuring that the services offered by the public library are on par with the 21st Century needs of our community
- Joined the Central Library Consortium which gives our library users easy access to public libraries all over Central Ohio and access to over 20 million items at libraries all over the state
- Fulfilled the long-standing customer request that the Granville Public Library be open on Sunday
- Created and expanded our library’s outreach services to all preschools, educational facilities and to senior facilities in Granville, including GPL Special Delivery, which delivers library materials to those who can’t travel to the library
- Kept current with technology, including robust Wi-Fi, early literacy learning stations, 3D printing, iMac editing stations and a large collection of downloadable, streaming and electronic database offerings that are free for all cardholders.
- Maintained a current collection of educational and entertaining materials, in various formats
- Greatly expanded programming for all ages including technology classes, book clubs, current events discussions and fun events for children and teens.
The library does have an amount in savings, which is common in public agencies, and ours is aligned with best practices for an organization of our size and budget. As a tax-supported organization, only major capital improvements, such as our renovation and addition in 2007, are reasons to carry a debt. Our reserve funds represent our entire capacity to pay for major repairs, upgrades and ongoing expenses. Also, reserve funds are kept assuring that if there is an economic downturn that impacts state funding and levy proceeds—similar to what happened in 2008 and 2009-- the library will function normally at a time when more people need and use public libraries.
How much does the levy generate?
The levy provides the Library with just over $400,000, annually. This amount represents about 40% of our library’s annual operating budget.
What happens if the levy renewal request is turned down?
The levy constitutes 40% of the Library’s budget. Other than the state’s Public Library Fund, other sources of funding for public libraries are not available. Therefore, cuts in library services would be required. Examples of likely cuts would be: drastic cuts in open days and hours, minimal programming, purchasing of new material will decrease, online offerings will be eliminated.
Where does the rest of the library’s budget come from?
Primarily, the state of Ohio’s Public Library Fund. This Fund has been in place since the 1980s, but it can vary each time the State Assembly approves a new budget. The State of Ohio funds their public libraries to assure that we have the best public libraries in the nation. If having modern, dynamic, full-service public libraries is important to you, please convey this to your elected state officials. The state’s public library budget can be changed every odd-numbered year when the Biennium Budget is passed.
It is important to know that every dollar spent on public library has a return on investment many times over, and that vibrant public libraries help support literacy, continued community engagement, job search help and small business support. We also receive funding from several local organizations, such as Granville Community Foundation grants, the Licking Community Foundation and donations from generous library users. The Friends of the Granville Public Library also give a sizable gift to the community every year, and their funds support our year-round programming, our summer reading initiatives, new technology, like our 3D printers and our Learn Something Collection.
Where can I go for more information?
Anita Carroll, library director, would be glad to answer any questions you might have. You can contact her by email at acarroll@granvillelibrary.org or by phone at 740-587-0196, ext. 101