Denise Brooks, Chair of the YES Library Committee, said: “The Library Millage is for 1.2 Millage over 10 years.”
Brooks said, “The Millage will help strengthen and expand current programs and services, as well as expand opportunities for broader access.” She encouraged everyone to vote YES on August 2 to support the library.
David Whipple, Chairman of the Board of Trustees at St Clair County Library, stated: “The existing millage ends this year. If the mill fails, there will be no library and all 11 branches will be closed. The Millage provides 78 percent of the library’s budget.”
Library Director Allison Arnold said, “The library has taken cost-saving measures to reduce spending over the past several years. Yet, in recent years, the library has had to forego fundamental improvements in technical infrastructure, as well as program, service and accessibility developments, in order to maintain a balanced operating budget.”
For details on the Millage library, see https://www.yeslibrary2022.org/
From Allison Arnold, Director of the St. County Library System:
“The mission of the St. Clair County Library System is to connect our community to the world of information so that our residents can be effective, ethical users and producers of ideas and information, critical thinkers, and lifelong learners to serve our community enable participation in our global society. To this end, the library offers free educational programs, including early childhood literacy programs, and distributes books, magazines, and DVDs. Other services include free public computers; free WiFi access; free online databases including Gale Courses and Ancestry.com; free access to meeting room for community groups; free one-to-one support with technology; free access to digital books; free interlibrary loan; and low-cost copy, print, and fax services.
The library has taken austerity measures in recent years to reduce spending. In recent years, however, the library has had to forgo fundamental improvements in technical infrastructure, as well as program, service, and accessibility developments in order to maintain a balanced operating budget.
COVID-19 and the resulting economic uncertainty have resulted in a significant reduction in fines (fines for violating the criminal code or violating the state), state aid, and interest income, which together account for 20% of the library’s annual budget. The primary source of income for the St. Clair County library system (nearly 80%) comes from locally passed property taxes, without which the library would not be able to function.”
From Denise Brooks, Chair of the YES Library Committee:
“The Library Millage is for 1.2 mills over 10 years. For a $160,000 house, that would be $96 a year — four hardcover books a year, or a couple of Starbucks coffees a month. With the wide range of offers in the library, that’s a bargain!”
“The Millage will help strengthen and expand current programs and services, as well as expand opportunities for broader access. I encourage everyone to vote YES on August 2nd to support the library.”
From David Whipple:
“My name is David Whipple. I’m the Chair of the Board of Trustees for the St. Clair County Library. The existing Millage ends this year. If the mill fails, there will be no library and all 11 branches will be closed. The mill provides 78 percent of the library’s budget. Please join us and vote on August 2nd to keep your library open.”
Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland
