04/08/2006

Supporters push for library millage

BY CHRISTINE FINGER

cfinger@record-eagle.com

SUTTONS BAY — Supporters of the Suttons Bay Area Public Library are rolling out a campaign to convince voters to approve a millage request.

Voters in Suttons Bay and Bingham townships will be asked Aug. 8 to authorize 0.77 mills to pay for operations at the library located on Front Street in Suttons Bay.

Eleanore Chamberland, who leads a citizen committee to support the request, said the millage would provide more stable and adequate funding to help the library meet its evolving community role. She pointed to a recent assessment that showed patrons want expanded hours and more materials.

"We found that we're not where we want to be," said Chamberland, former president of the library's board of trustees. "Our budget simply won't cover any more than we're doing."

The proposed millage would replace the 0.3 mills currently provided from the general funds of Suttons Bay and Bingham townships — funding that has supported the library district since it was established 27 years ago.

The new millage would equal $77 for every $100,000 of taxable value and bring in about $173,000 annually, compared to the $112,000 to $130,000 expected under the current funding method.

The request asks voters to approve the millage in perpetuity. Funds would pay for operating expenses, not for building expansion.

Chamberland said millage approval would mean more open hours, increased staffing, more books, additional youth and adult programs and more of the materials — like CDs and DVDs — that modern library patrons expect.

The citizen committee will distribute information about the millage request and tell voters about services the library can offer them.

"It has different things for different people," Chamberland said.