What is the Toledo Lucas County Public Library asking voters to consider?
A 1-mill bond issue on the November 5, 2024 ballot which will cost owners of a $100,000 home an estimated $2.92 per month. Vote for your Library!
What is a bond issue?
A bond issue is a form of debt financing used to fund capital improvements. (“Capital,” meaning facilities.) The proceeds are payable over a fixed period of time, here 30 years, and can only be used for capital improvements such as facility improvements. Bonds cannot pay for salaries and wages or program costs covered in the Library’s general operations.
How much will the bond cost and what will be funded?
- The bond will cost owners of a $100,000 home an estimated $2.92 per month.
- The $153 bond will be serviced over 30 years.
- The bond will be dedicated to capital needs per the Facilities Master Plan and not used for daily operations.
When was the last time the Library asked for capital funds?
The Library last asked taxpayers for bond funds in 1995, nearly 30 years ago.
What is the Facilities Master Plan?
How is the Library engaging the community in this process?
The Library engaged stakeholders by soliciting community feedback about the Library’s long-term capital needs in spring 2024 through an online survey. Nearly 5,000 people provided input during this process. The Library will continue engaging the community throughout the year by seeking specific branch-level feedback from local stakeholders during the fall. Some key takeaways from the survey…
- The Library received a 91% overall satisfaction rate from respondents
- Only 49.68% of respondents from branches identified as needing significant work noted “satisfaction” with the quality of their branch (i.e., functionality of the branch, space utilization of the branch, etc.) – expressing a need for improvements
- An additional 65% of respondents noted that expanding the TLCPL footprint into growing areas of the County was a “good idea”
- 80.78% of respondents said TLCPL “contributes a lot” to the quality of life in the community
Should the November bond be successful, the Library will again engage local neighborhoods before any major project commences.
What will happen if the issue does not pass?
If the issue is not passed, the Library will seek alternative funding to complete the Alexis Road Campus (new Washington Branch) project. However, the more immediate Holland Branch renovation, the new construction in Southwest Lucas County, and the needed major improvements at other branches will not be completed. Minor, insignificant adjustments will have to be budgeted for, when possible, through the Library’s general operational fund, meaning that needs expressed by the community could take years, if not decades, to address.
Has the Library won any awards?
The Library received the National Medal for Museum and Library Service in 2023, which is given to institutions that exemplify extraordinary and innovative approaches to public service. This is the highest honor awarded to a library system (public or academic) or museum in the United States.
The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) has awarded TLCPL a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for 27 consecutive years. TLCPL has received the Ohio Auditor of State Award with Distinction for excellence in financial reporting for seven years. Over 6,000 organizations in Ohio are audited each year, and only 3-5% earn this recognition.
When is the election?
Election Day is November 5 and Early Voting starts October 8. Vote Yes!
