Every five years, the Library must ask taxpayers to renew its operational levy at 3.7 mills, paid through property taxes, which fund 60% of Library staff, materials, programming, etc.
The other 40% of Library funding comes from the state budget (the Public Library Fund), which was cut by state legislators. TLCPL will lose $1.6 million from July 2025 to July 2027.
Unlike a bond, an operational levy and the Public Library Fund can be used to support many Library initiatives, not just building and construction materials. When state legislators cut public library funding, TLCPL needed to reduce its operations (branch hours).
Given that a bond cannot support operations, and when operational funding is cut either by taxpayers at the ballot box or, in this case, the state legislature, reducing operational costs, like changing hours, unfortunately, must take place to balance the budget.
