Township Library Board Supports Exploring Millage Increase

The possibility of an for the was the hot topic at Thursday night’s .

The need for a millage increase results from declining property tax revenues and an increase in library usage.

Christine Hage, RHPL director, gave an overview of the needs of the library and stressed the need for all three communities that use the library – Rochester, Rochester Hills and Oakland Township – to be in agreement if a millage proposal goes forward. Her goal at the meeting, she said, was to gauge the board’s interest in pursuing a millage increase.

After much discussion, a motion was approved to “support future exploration of additional library operating millages.”

“I really support this; $39 is really just two books,” board member Carolyn Krygel Young said of the expected extra tax to the owner of an average home in Oakland Township.

Hage said that to provide the same level of service the library has been delivering for years and maintain the same percentage of new annual materials, an increase in funds is necessary. The RHPL has been operating with a 16 percent loss of revenue the last four years. 

Hage said the library building is aging, and building-related costs have increased recently and more are expected.

“If this went to voters and it didn’t pass, we would inevitably have to cut staff, which would reduce staffed hours and reduce materials further,” Hage said. “We can’t sacrifice electricity or heating costs.”

Hage hopes to gain the support of the township and cities to ask for an increase of a quarter mill over an eight-year period. The exact increase and number of years could vary depending on the community. Hage assured that the Friends of the RHPL had already pledged $20,000 for a millage campaign. No extra funds from the Oakland Township Library Board would be used for promotional materials.

“The board is firm that we have to have an agreement with all three communities to move forward,” Hage said. “Everyone has paid equally over the years and we think it’s important to continue the parity.”

If the communities agreed to put a millage questions before voters, the RHPL has discussed a survey of residents next August. Hage was asked  what would happen if one of the communities didn’t pass the millage. She said that restricting some access or reducing the number of materials available to that community wasn’t out of the question.

After the motion to further explore the additional millages was unanimously passed,  board member Alice Tomboulin asked about the possibility of turning the RHPL into a district library. The library would come under a new millage that would be voted on simultaneously by all area residents.

Other members agreed. Young said she thought it was a cleaner, less confusing approach, compared to all three communities working on it separately.

Board members suggested meeting with the RHPL board to discuss options. A meeting date was not set, but it will be after November elections.

Other meeting items included:

• Approval of a library fund budget for the 2011-2012 year.
• A resolution to approve the 2011-12 proposed budget and 2011-12 fund millage.
• A rate of $15 per hour was approved for recording secretary Doris Brandt.