Ohio Library Seeks 1-mill Property Tax in November

Link to July 30 Chillicothe Gazette article, "Pike library seeks levy to offset funding loss."

Excerpt: The library board met in special session Monday, where it decided it was best to let Pike County residents decide if they want services restored or if they are OK with further cuts in hours and resources. This is the first time in the library's 70-year history it is asking the community for a local property tax, said director Tom Adkins.

Reductions made so far this year at the Garnet A. Wilson Public Library of Pike County:
1. Materials expenditures
2. Layoff notices given to 10 employees
3. Hours of operations cut twice

Further cuts might need to be considered, including cutting back branch schedules to 12 hours per week.

Massillon Public Library: "Deep Cuts"

Link to July 24 IndeOnline.com post, "Deep cuts".

Excerpt:

Massillon Public Library employees and patrons will soon be feeling the teeth as the state officially begins crunching its budget.

After losing 31 percent of its state funding both this and next fiscal year, the Massillon Public Library will be forced to lock some doors, park the Bookmobile and turn off the lights on weekends.

"It's very difficult (to make these decisions)," Massillon Public Library Director Camille Leslie said. "We see our funding continuing to erode and it is cause for concern. We will do the best we can, but it's going to be difficult."


Measures approved by library board.
1. Mandatory furlough for all library employees, August 10-15.
2. No Sunday hours through 2010.
3. Elilmination of some bookmobile stops.
4. Increase in fines.
5. Charge of $1 for obituary requests processed through the mail.

Director Camille Leslie says it's likely additional cuts will have to be made.

Stark County District Library Director Explains Need for Service Reductions

Link to July 27 CantonRep.com post, "Library cuts are necessary because levy doesn't offset reduction in state funding".

Excerpt: During this recent budgeting nightmare, we have repeatedly heard the question from our library customers about why the library is considering a reduction of services when it has a local operating levy that voters approved last November.

It is because that levy is only 30 percent of the library's revenue for its operating budget.

The state's Public Library Fund represents 60 percent of the revenue for that budget.