Clinton Township Public Library Millage FAQs

This August, a millage increase for the Clinton Township Public Library will be on the ballot. Below you will find the FAQs. Any further questions can be directed to the millage committee at CTPLMillage@gmail.com.

 

WHEN WILL THE MILLAGE VOTE TAKE PLACE?

Registered Clinton Township voters will vote on the millage during the August 4, 2020 election.

 

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE MILLAGE VOTE?

In this millage, the library is seeking a “Headlee Override” to recover funds previously approved by Clinton Township residents but lost due to the Headlee Amendment. On April 5, 1937, the registered voters of Clinton approved a 1mill tax to support the library. However, over the years the millage has been reduced to .8339. This millage seeks to return the library to its original approved figure, a total of 1mill or $1 per $1,000 of taxable value per year, for a period of 20 years.

 

WHAT IS A HEADLEE OVERRIDE?

The Headlee Amendment rollback and Proposal A protected property owners from increases in property taxes and rolled back tax rates, however, the rollbacks and limits produce downward pressure on millage rates. This can have a significant effect on local government bodies, including public libraries. In order for those entities to recover the millage lost through the rollbacks, they must ask for voter approval of a “Headlee Override”. By doing so, they are asking voters to approve a millage rate increase, but that rate will be no higher than the original rate approved by voters before the rollbacks took effect.

Read more (opens in a new window): https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/what_is_a_headlee_override

 

HOW MUCH WILL THE MILLAGE RAISE FOR THE LIBRARY?

If the millage is approved, it is estimated the library will receive an additional $19,788 in its first year (2020).

 

HOW MUCH WILL THE MILLAGE COST ME?

The millage is based upon a property’s SEV (State Equalized Value) which is approximately equivalent to half the market value.

To calculate the amount of your increase, use the following formula: Your 2020 Taxable Value/1000 x 0.1661.

Example: Property value $175,000. If approved, the new millage would cost the property owner $14.53 more per year ($.04 per day)*.

*This estimate is not accurate for property owners who purchased their properties many years ago. The actual cost will be less due to Proposition A tax increase caps.

 

WHY DOES THE LIBRARY NEED THIS MILLAGE?

Since the economic downturn in 2008, the library has struggled to cover rising costs of staffing, utilities, insurance, and supplies. Due to the combination of the Headlee Amendment rollback and Michigan Proposition A, tax revenues have not kept pace with the increasing costs. The library has employed cost-saving measures to reduce expenses, including reducing operating hours. Yet, in recent years the library has had to spend capital improvement funds to maintain a balanced operating budget.

These issues are compounded by recent events. COVID-19 and the resulting economic downturn has caused a significant reduction in penal fines, state aid, and book sales revenue, which collectively comprise 12% of the library’s annual budget. The Clinton Township Public Library’s primary revenue source is local property taxes, however, tax revenues are also expected to be impacted. The total revenue loss is not yet known.

 

HOW MUCH DOES THE LIBRARY SPEND PER YEAR, AND WHAT IS ITS LARGEST EXPENSE?

The library’s 2020-2021 Fiscal Year budget is $180,491. Because the library is open to the public 43 hours a week, and the library’s focus has shifted in recent years toward a more service-orientated mission, the single largest expense is wages and employee taxes. The library employs six local community members, your neighbors and friends.

 

WHO DOES THE LIBRARY SERVE?

The library serves residents of Clinton, Manchester, and Bridgewater Townships. 

 

WHAT SERVICES DOES THE LIBRARY PROVIDE?

The mission of the Clinton Township Public Library is to empower our community members to be effective, ethical users and producers of ideas and information, critical thinkers, and lifelong learners in order to allow them to participate fully in our global society. Toward this end, the library provides free educational programs, including early literacy programs for children, and circulates books, magazines, and DVDs. Other services include free public computers; free and unrestricted Wi-Fi access; free online databases including Ancestry.com; free meeting room access for community groups; free one-on-one assistance with technology; free access to digital books; free interlibrary loan services; and low-cost copy, printing, and fax services. 

 

AUGUST 4TH BALLOT LANGUAGE:

This proposal restores library millage previously approved by the voters that has been lost as a result of the reduction required by the “Headlee” amendment to the Michigan Constitution of 1963.

Shall the limitation on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all taxable property in the Township of Clinton, Lenawee County, Michigan, be increased by and the Township be authorized to levy 0.1661 mill ($0.1661 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a period of 20 years, 2020 to 2039, inclusive, for the purpose of maintaining a Township library; the estimate of the revenue the Township will collect and disburse to the Clinton Township Public Library if the millage is approved and levied in 2020 is approximately $19,788 (this millage is to restore millage lost as a result of the reduction required by the “Headlee” amendment to the Michigan Constitution of 1963)? 

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A YES vote means you are approving the library returning to a 1 mill millage, as approved by voters in 1937.