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Referendum Wording:

"Shall the annual library tax for maintenance and operation of the Park Ridge Public Library be increased from .150% to .368% for the levy years 2014 through 2017?" 

 

For the 2013 levy year, the City used its home rule power to levy a tax equal to .290%. Therefore, for the 2014 levy year, the .368% rate would result in approximately $20.76 of additional tax for every $100,000 in property value equating to $87.58 of additional tax for a single family resident with a fair market value of $421,800."

 

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Why is this referendum on the ballot?

Since 2008, the City Council has reduced the amount of income the library receives three times.  The amount has gone down three out of five years since 2009.  The City Council also eliminated $100,000 in revenue sharing that the Library received annually.  In 2008 the Library received $550,000 more in annual income that it will receive for the 2014/15 fiscal year.  This funding needs to be restored so the at Library can provide all the services the citizens of Park Ridge deserve; the current level of funding is not adequate to support the present level of programs, services, staffing, and collections.  If this referendum does not pass, future reductions in programming and services will need to take place.  

 

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Who decided to have a referendum?

The City Council decided that the decision to increase funding for the Library should be made by the voters and it placed the question on the November 4th ballot.  

 
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How much of my property taxes go to support the library?

Approximately only 2.7% of your total tax bill goes to the Library.   The rest goes to the following taxing bodies: school districts (67.8%), City of Park Ridge (9.89%), Cook County (6.12%), Park District (5.15%), Water Reclamation (3.88%), Oakton College (2.38%), and 2.08% goes to others.  

 
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Where does the Library get its funding?

That 2.7% of your tax bill accounts for about 98% of the Library's income.  The rest comes from late fees, photocopy fees, and library card purchases.  The Library also receives a small amount of grant money each year.  

 

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If this referendum passes, what does it mean for my property taxes?

If this referendum passes, you will pay approximately $20.76 more in taxes for each of the next four years for each $100,000 of market value of your home. For a home valued at $400,000, this would be $83.04 per year or about $6.92 per month, less the cost of one paperback book per month.  After four years, the City Council aldermen will decide the amount of Library funding and if there is to be another referendum.  

 

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Why does the question on the ballot say the levy increased from 0.150% when the actual 2013 levy was 0.290%?

Park Ridge is a "home rule" community which means the City Council has the discretion and authority to set the levy at whatever rate they feel is appropriate.  Illinois law requires them to not set it lower than 0.150%.  Since the referendum is binding and may further limit the City's discretion, they decided to use the minimum rate in the question rather that the current rate.  The actual increase between the 2013 tax levy and the proposed 2014 tax levy is .078% (.368% - .290% = .078%).  This would be a 26.8% increase for the Library's portion of the tax bill, which is currently only 2.7% of what you pay.  

 
 
What will the library do with funds when the referendum passes?

The Library will have a balanced budget with revenue that will support the level of services, materials, and programs now being provided.  All Library hours will be restored.  Funds to purchase new materials and online resources will be restored, reducing wait times for popular materials and allowing the Library to purchase items to fulfill patron requests.  Necessary building repairs and improvements can be completed, including windows throughout the facility, necessary replacement lighting, restrooms upgrades, replacement of HVAC components, and electrical system upgrades.

 

 

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What happens if the referendum does not pass?

The Library will only have a balanced budget if significant reductions are made to library services, materials, and programs.  Library hours will be further reduced because staffing will be reduced.  Further reduction will be made to the budget for new materials, resulting in longer wait times for popular materials, fewer new materials, and fewer online resources.  Necessary building repairs and improvements will be postponed even further.  Additional fees will need to be implemented, including fees to attend programs, increases in late fees, and charges to check our materials such as DVDs and Blu-Rays.  The referendum needs to pass to keep the level of services, materials and programs the community currently enjoys and to allow the Library to make necessary repairs and improvements.  

 

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What did the Library Board cut from the current budget and how will that impact your Library services?

New materials budget reduced by $73,600 - Library will be able to purchase fewer new materials and some online databases will be eliminated

Personnel costs reduced by $182,200 - Library hours were reduced on Fridays and Saturdays and the Library was closed on Sundays in the summer; some positions were eliminated and some part-time staff had their hours reduced; fewer programs for children and families are offered due to the elimination of a full-time librarian position; staff participation in most events outside the library have been eliminated

Building repair projects reduced by $140,000 - necessary projects have been postponed or spread out over several years

Other reductions of $37,500 - less money was deposited in the Technology Replacement Fund; off-site storage has been eliminated; the budget for marketing Library programs and services has been reduced

 

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Why did the Library reduce the number of hours it is open each week?

The Board decided to spread the reductions across several areas in order to maintain core services.  Core services are the services that a community reasonably expects its public library to provide.  These include access to books and other materials in a wide array of subjects and formats, access to and assistance in finding information that residents need, support for students' education needs, early childhood developement literacy, assistance for those with special needs, and a place to use a computer, learn a skill, attend a program or access Wi-Fi.  Reducing hours reduces personnel costs while maintaining most of the services and programs.  

 

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Are there other ways to increase the Library's revenue?

The Library Board is considering a variety of user fees for both residents and non-residents as a way to generate more revenue.  In March, the Library began charging adults who do not have a Park Ridge library card $3 per hour to use a computer in the Library, and in June began charging non-Park Ridge card holders to attend some programs.

 

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Did you know?

Philanthropist Andrew Carnegie endowed the Park Ridge Public Library in 1913.  He believed that the public library was the one place where people of all races, nationalities and economic backgrounds could have access to the materials that would allow them to be informed citizens -- the basis of our democratic form of government.  He also believed that the public library provided a means for those who wanted to help themselves to acquire knowledge that would make them more valuable in a free-market economy.

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