Levy Approved for Kent Free Library

The first ever operating levy in the history of the was approved by voters Tuesday, according to complete but unofficial results from the Portage County Board of Elections.

Voters approved a 1.8-mill, continuing operating levy for the library by a vote of 3,776 for with 1,892 against with 26 of 29 voting precincts reporting, according to the board of elections.

Kent Free Library Director Stacey Richardson said the levy will generate about $884,000 each year to support the library's operations.

"It’s very gratifying to know that the residents value and understand the importance of their public library," Richardson said. "Even though we have a tough economic climate right now it’s heartening to see our patrons and community members feel it’s a worthwhile investment."

The operating levy will cost home owners in Kent, for every $100,000 of valuation for their house, about $56 a year or less than $5 a month.

The levy approved Tuesday for operations — covering everything from the light bill to materials — is the library's first. As a continuing levy, it will collect a 1.8-mill tax on property values indefinitely to pay the library's operational costs.

In 2003, voters approved a 1.9-mill, 27-year levy to collect $13.5 million towards construction of the new library, which opened in 2005. That money can only be used to pay the construction bonds and cannot be used to pay operating costs at the library.

Richardson said the operating levy will allow the library to restore services and programs that have been cut or reduced, such as operating hours and the home-bound service that delivered books to people without means to get to the library.

"We are planning on restoring some services definitely, and we will get to work on those as soon as we are able to do so," she said.

The library used to be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., but those hours were scaled back from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Another priority for restoration is the library's materials budget, which allows the library to buy new books, DVDs and other items.

"Those are the two biggest ones that we were most anxious to be able to restore," Richardson said.

Like all libraries in Ohio, Kent's has not been immune to for operations.

In 2010, Kent's library operated on a budget of about $1.4 million. Of that, about $1.2 million — or 93 percent — came from the state Public Library Fund. Last year's budget compares with the $1.5 million the library had to work with in 2009. In 2008, the library had slightly more than 2009 at $1.7 million. And in 2007, the library's budget was about $1.76 million.

The Kent library has lost almost $700,000 in its annual budget since 2001 because of state cuts. As a result, the library has run a deficit of about $100,000 every year since 2008. About 95 percent of the library's budget comes from the state.

The library's board of trustees voted in June to put a continuing levy on the ballot instead of a renewal levy that, if approved, would have been up for a vote again in five years.

Richardson said she's confident this new operating levy will keep the library's doors open regardless of future state cuts in support.

"Certainly the funding from the state is not stable," she said. "As long as the budget from the state doesn’t get obliterated we should be fine for many, many years into the future. I’m thrilled that we now have a stable source of funding that’s going to allow us to deliver the quality materials, programs and services our community deserves and expects."