Library trustees move to collect $3.2M annually

MIDDLETOWN— The Middletown Public Library Board of Trustees have officially decided to put a 0.75-mill tax levy on May ballot.

Trustees voted 5-0 in favor of the levy during a special meeting Thursday, Jan. 28, opting to go for 0.75 mills to offset what Board President James VonderHaar called a “double whammy” in funding cuts.

“Our funding has been pretty flat, and we don’t see that changing based on the projections for the state general tax revenue,” VonderHaar said. “We’re trying to get back to the level we were at before the cuts and hoping we can stay at that level.”

The approved millage would generate approximately $3.23 million annually for a five year period. That amounts to around $22.97 every year for the owner of a $100,000 home.

Library Director Doug Bean said taxpayers in Wayne Twp., Madison Twp., Lemon Twp., Liberty Twp., West Chester Twp., Seven Mile, Middletown, Trenton and Monroe would all be included in the levy, if approved.

The levy will need approval from Middletown City Council, the library’s taxing authority, before it can be submitted to the Butler County Board of Elections. Bean said he plans on speaking before council members during their Feb. 2 meeting.

Councilman Dan Picard, who serves as liaison to the board, urged trustees to go for the 0.75-mill levy instead of a 0.7-mill version if they were worried about state funding cuts further down the road.

“It’s not like you’re going to be able to get a second bite at the apple next year,” Picard said.

He addressed growing concern his fellow council members — namely A.J. Smith and Josh Laubach — could take issue with the levy coming before them as an emergency ordinance, advising library officials to put together as much information as possible and have it included in council’s Feb. 2 meeting packet.

“Hopefully that will help alleviate any anxiety these two men have,” Picard said. “Make a short, concise presentation to council, and then hopefully, they will be glad to move forward with emergency legislation.”