Why Is CMPL Asking for a Renewal?
CMPL’s original millage revenues have not yet recovered from the losses following the Great Recession. In 1998 residents of Clinton and Macomb Townships approved 1 mill. This rate has been reduced by 13% (to .8676 mills) over the years because of the Headlee Amendment and Proposal A. The effects of these losses equate to $1.2M annually.
The supplemental millage approved in 2014 has also been permanently reduced from .39 mills to .3775 mills, an additional loss of $80K for 2020. Combined, voters have approved 1.39 mills for operation and construction of the library district. Because of rate reductions, the library only collects 1.2451 mills and will likely be further reduced in the years ahead.
This millage renewal is not a tax increase. It is sustaining the funding approved in 2014.
How Much Will It Cost?
The chart below illustrates what the supplemental millage renewal will cost based on the market value of a home:
Market Value of Home (Taxable value is 50% of market value) | Renewed Millage Annual Cost | Renewed Millage Monthly Cost |
---|---|---|
$100,000 | $18.88 | $1.57 |
$150,000 | $28.31 | $2.36 |
$200,000 | $37.75 | $3.15 |
$250,000 | $47.19 | $3.93 |
$300,000 | $56.63 | $4.72 |
This table only calculates the supplemental millage payment, not the original operating millage passed in 1998.
If the millage is APPROVED:
- Current service levels will be sustained
- Collections will be kept up-to-date and of sufficient size to response to community demand
- Technology and facilities will be proactively maintained and refreshed to meet community needs
- Upgrade the Main Library to include a drive-up service window like the South Branch and new North Branch will have. One need not look further than the Main Library which is nearly 18 years old and has seen over 6 million visits yet still looks like new!
If the library millage renewal is NOT APPROVED, the following cuts will be necessary to address the 30% ($2.5M) loss in annual revenues. There will be significant reductions in:
- Hours
- Collections
- Programs
- Services
- Staff
Vote August 4, 2020!
Find your polling place, make sure you are registered, request an absentee ballot and more at the Michigan Secretary of State.