Feud heightens between Elk Grove, Schaumburg libraries. (Daily Herald, 1/30/2012)
Excerpt [with bold highlights added]: Due to a deal struck more than 25 years ago, those west of Rohlwing residents were enjoying benefits at both libraries with dual library cards, though legally paying taxes only to the Schaumburg Township District Library.
“It’s the only area in the entire state ever to have that sort of ability to hold two library cards, that is essentially prohibited by (state law),” Schaumburg Township library Director Stephanie Sarnoff said.
The tax-sharing deal between both libraries originally was established to stop residents from being double-taxed because that territory of Elk Grove Village’s municipal library overlapped with the Schaumburg Township library district.
Until a 1983 referendum, residents of the western third of Elk Grove Village belonged and paid taxes to both libraries. A majority of voters supported joining the Schaumburg district.
Per the deal, Schaumburg Township library remitted a portion of tax revenue generated from Elk Grove Village residents to the Elk Grove library. That amounted to more than $200,000 in fiscal year 2011 — and more than $3.4 million over the years.
That funding makes up about 4 percent of the Elk Grove library’s roughly $4.6 million operating budget, and about 1.5 percent of the Schaumburg library’s $14.8 million operating budget for the 2011 fiscal year.
However, the Schaumburg Township library board decided last July to end the tax-sharing agreement due to financial constraints.
Related post:
"Unlibraried" Illinois Residents Face a Patchwork of Fees. (10/15/2011)
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