About the Library Referendum
The Chatham Area Public Library District Library Board of Trustees has submitted a referendum question for the April 1st, 2025, consolidated election ballot. Approval of the referendum would allow the library to focus on three priorities: critical infrastructure repairs, long-term financial stability, and expanded materials, services & technology. The proposition asks voters to reallocate the tax rate from the expiring bond to the operational fund with a minimal annual increase. For a median-value home ($285,000) in our Library District, the estimated increase in annual taxes is $38.39, or $3.20 a month.
Why Now
No Tax Increase in 20+ Years
- Operational tax rate unchanged since 2003.
Aging Building
- Built in 1995, doubled in size in 2009 with no funding increase; systems are past life expectancy.
Over $2M Needed for Repairs
- Professional assessment identifies critical infrastructure issues over the next decade, including major repairs to the North and East sides.
Reserves Fall Short
- While the Library has some reserves to address regular maintenance, it cannot cover the costly immediate repairs and ongoing maintenance combined
How would this affect my property taxes?
Most up-to-date information as of Tax Levy Year 2023.
Outcomes of the Referendum
Regardless of whether the referendum passes or fails, the Library must address the immediate water infiltration issues that are occurring on the North and East sides of the building.
What Happens if the Referendum Passes?
- Required Building Projects Advance: The needed repairs to the building will be immediately addressed.
- Long-Term Fiscal Sustainability: It will allow the Library to plan capital maintenance for our 30-year-old building, including HVAC repairs, carpet replacement, more private and collaborative study/workspaces, energy-efficient components, parking lot maintenance, wall repairs and painting, window and door replacements, and furniture updates, to name a few. It will also remove the need for the library to ask for additional tax rate increases for the foreseeable future.
- Enhanced Materials, Services, & Spaces: Once the required repairs and ongoing maintenance issues are addressed, the Library can focus on reducing print and digital wait times and developing a variety of flexible spaces and services to meet the needs of our growing community.
What Happens if the Referendum Fails?
If the referendum fails, the Library would need to utilize current operating and reserve funds, which would likely divert some of those funds from other priorities, such as:
- Reduced Services and Hours: There may be a noticeable decrease in in-house and external classes and programs. Outreach and off-site programming to local organizations and senior living facilities will be affected and possibly discontinued. In the future, hours may need to be reduced to provide funds for maintenance needed to keep the building operating.
- Limited Materials and Access to Technology: The selection of materials may be limited, and wait times for new books, movies, music, and downloadable content will be longer. Technology access and services may be reduced, limiting resources available to patrons, such as public computers, free technology classes, and limited funds to purchase updated equipment.
- Minimized Building Maintenance: Only basic repairs will likely be completed. While it is projected that over two million dollars over the next ten years are needed for capital improvements, such as repairing the water infiltration issues on the North and East sides of the building, commercial heating and air conditioning system, a new roof, and other normal wear and tear issues of a public building of our size, repairs, and maintenance will likely only be addressed on an as-needed basis.