A mill levy increase may be coming to provide greater support to the library as its board continues to plan for the future whether or not there is an immediate new building.
The Library Board met Tuesday night to discuss further planning for the budget for next year and follow up on the potential for a new location on Main Street.
The current mill levy is 3.19, with the board discussing an increase to 3.72. When the board went out for the last bond issue, that was a proposed levy of 3.909. The levy had been around 4.31 three years prior. It has been consistently decreasing since.
Board member Eric Magette said the board is still working to negotiate on the former quilt shop building on Main Street, and this budget would include a contingency for if that happens. The mill levy increase is a combination of the possibility for a new building and the need for major upgrades to the existing building if they don’t end up moving, he said.
“I would say it’s a combination of both. The biggest piece of it is for that purpose, but we’re like everyone else. Our expenses go up every year just like everyone else and even if we don’t get the building then we’re in a situation where we’re probably looking at having to find a way to make that building work for 10 more years so we’re in a position now where we’re putting significant money into that building,” Magette said.
The board also said it’s possible to decrease the mill levy next year if it ends up not getting the new building.
The mill levy has been decreasing for a number of years, but with increasing costs and additional needs associated with a new building, and needs for the current building if the library stays where it is, a slight increase is needed, board members agreed.
If the new building doesn’t happen, the current building is still falling down, Board President Kenny Massey said. Roof, air conditioning and plumbing work will likely be future needs if the library stays where it is, he said.
Board member Tim Pringle said he agreed the library needs the extra money, especially because of already needing various repairs for the current building and the potential for a new building.
Massey said the proposed mill rate with the county’s formula would mean a generation of $432,773 for the library.
The budget will likely include increases for programming and a line item contingent on receiving the new building which formerly housed Quilting Bits N Pieces. The contingency reserve item will have money allowing the board to prepare for any potential costs associated with moving into that building.
The board went into two executive sessions, one regarding buying the former quilt store and another related to personnel.
After about 20 minutes dedicated to discussing buying the store location, Magette said the board had come to a consensus to ask its agent to resume negotiations for the property with the hopes of coming to an agreement soon.
The board went into executive session for about 30 minutes regarding personnel and no action was taken following.
Interim City Manager Zack Daniel briefly attended the meeting to let the board know he had been getting caught up on their project since he’s taken the interim position. He also said the city has been working with a new on-call planner since their previous one had taken a different position. This is relevant as the board continues to plan for the new building and related parking ordinances to make the downtown building possible. The board had previously been working with the city’s on-call planner and will continue to work with the city’s full-time planner who is set to start in January.
Budget discussion will continue at the board’s next meeting.
In other business, Executive Director Carol Wohlford provided updates on the summer reading program. There were 200 sign-ups, and 93 completed the program. About 233 kids and adults participated in storytime events. There were about 75 attendees for children’s programs, 87 for teen programs and 130 for family programs.
Feeding Eudora has also ended for the season with an average of 200 to 250 attending each day. Wohlford said that number increased to about 350 each day when the Thakkers hosted.
