FACTS about the Louisville Public Library
1 Mill Levy RENEWAL
Renewal ONLY
NOT a new tax
NOT asking for any additional millage or money
NOT for the new building
Maintains current services, programs, and hours of operation
1 mill levy generates $362,000 per year
This levy makes up ONE THIRD of the Library’s operating budget
Currently costs homeowners $19 per $100,000 of property value PER YEAR--THIS AMOUNT WILL NOT CHANGE, even with higher property valuations.
Levies are designed to collect a specific amount of money. When property values go up, the levy percentage goes down so the levy brings in the same amount of money each year.
WHY DO WE NEED A LOCAL LEVY?
We like to plan and budget our resources, just like everyone else. While state library funding changes year to year, a local levy is stable funding for five years that we can rely on.
With the local levy, we can plan for a fiscally-responsible future.
Of all the libraries in Stark County with local levies (including Canal Fulton, North Canton, Massillon, Rodman Public Library in Alliance, and the Stark County District Library), the Louisville Public Library has the lowest millage (at 1 mill) and the shortest duration (at 5 years).
We offer you everything the bigger and more expensive libraries do, plus a brand new library building at no additional taxpayer expense, a state-of-the-art Makerspace, and Discovery Center for less than any other library in Stark County. That's a deal, any way you measure it.
IS THIS LEVY TO PAY FOR THE NEW BUILDING?
No. As the Library has been trying to build over the years, we have saved, raised, and borrowed at no additional cost to taxpayers. This is a commonly-used option for libraries that do not want to ask for a levy, and was recently used by the Stark Library during their most recent renovations.
The Library is also undertaking a capital campaign to raise funds, which currently stands at over $1,000,000.
WHY NOT JUST JOIN THE STARK COUNTY DISTRICT LIBRARY?
The Stark County District Library has a 2 mill levy, so that would cost homeowners TWICE as much as the Louisville renewal.
If the Louisville Public Library were to consolidate into the Stark County District Library, the citizens of the Louisville City School District would be subject to the higher 2 mill tax rate paid by all citizens residing within the Stark County Library District.
This is according to Ohio Revised Code Section 3375.213 which reads, “Any levies which the taxing authorities of such subdivision or of the former county library district have been authorized by the electors of the subdivision or of the former county library district to make for the payment of current expenses, interest, and retirement of bonds, or any other indebtedness of said boards of trustees shall thereafter be made upon the taxable property of all of the new or enlarged county library district and at such lesser rate as is necessary for the payment of such expenses, bonds, or indebtedness.”
If we were to join the Stark County District Library, it is very unlikely that any Louisville residents would be appointed to the Stark County District Library Board, so the community would lose local control over the Library.
The Louisville Public Library is currently operating with a 1 mill levy and can offer you all of the same great library services as larger libraries, plus a new building at no additional taxpayer expense, a state-of-the-art Makerspace, and Discovery Center. Of course, we will always offer great books, resources, online books, and excellent programming such as “Painting with Bob Ross,” story times, and outreach services to our schools and senior centers that includes materials and quality programming for our teachers, seniors, and students.
HOW THE LOUISVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY IS FUNDED
Libraries in the state of Ohio receive funding from the bi-annual state budget. Currently, libraries receive 1.7% of the total state budget and that budget is called the Public Library Fund (PLF).
The PLF is then distributed amongst all 88 counties. Within Stark County, the PLF is divided amongst seven library systems, based on library statistics and service area. In 2024, the Louisville Public Library received $758,610.29 from the PLF, which makes up 4.5% of the PLF distributed in Stark county.
In addition, libraries may request a local levy from their community. In Ohio, there are 251 public libraries and 203 public libraries have a local levy. In Louisville, our 1 mill local levy generates $362,000 and makes up one third of our budget.