Brandon Twp.- Library officials are examining what is involved in creating a district library, a move that would broaden their tax base and increase revenue by drawing in Groveland Township residents who live within the Brandon School District.
The library board and Library Director Paula Gauthier will meet with Lance Werner, Library of Michigan legal counsel, at 6:30 p.m., Nov. 14, at the library, 304 South St. The meeting is open to the public.
‘This is one plan we can propose to the communities for a more sustainable library system,? said Margaret Lee, library board president. ‘Right now, we are solely supported by the Brandon Township taxpayers… With a district library, we could be supported by two townships or a township and a school district. They could merge and create a district library and their population would become supporters of that district library.?
Library Trustee Matt Ault said the possibility of the Brandon Township Public Library becoming a district library has been discussed for several years.
‘Given our past relationship with Groveland, it has been discussed as one possible solution as to how to best serve the community,? he said. ‘The last five or six years, there have been a lot of issues as to whether Groveland Township is included in our service area.?
In December of 2003, library officials, upset that Groveland contributed only three percent of library operating revenue (about $25,000), requested the township agree to a new yearly contract of $190,686, to cover about 2,340 library cards. The Groveland Board of Trustees turned down the request and the Brandon School Board approved a lawsuit against the library, after being notified in February 2004 that the library would charge students who reside in Groveland a $6 fee for library cards as part of a Student Patron Fee Agreement. A judge ruled in favor of the library.
Nancy Bennett, administrative assistant for the library, said 489 library cards have been purchased this year by Groveland Township residents. Cards are $100 for individuals or $150 for a family. She was unsure how many cards were the $6 cards purchased by students.
The district library idea is currently only a proposal, says Ault, a possible way to ensure the library’s long-term sustainability as revenue fails to keep pace with rising costs.
Ault stressed it is still purely exploratory at this point, but if the library were to pursue creating a district library that involved the Brandon School District, the school board, library board and Brandon Township board would all have to approve it first (approval from the Groveland board is not necessary, Ault said). Then, a millage for the new library would need to be established and be put on the ballot for voters affected by the creation of the new library, including all Brandon Township voters and Groveland voters who live within the Brandon School District.
‘It would only come into existence if a millage is passed within the district to support the library,? Ault said. ‘If it doesn’t pass, it reverts back to the way it was before. I can’t imagine it would be higher millage. If we increase the tax base, the millage could potentially go down. From a personal standpoint, I think it sounds like a good solution for the community as a whole… We still hear complaints about how the library operates with respect to Groveland residents. At least this way, people would have a chance to vote.?
Groveland Township Supervisor Bob DePalma said offering a vote was briefly discussed a few years ago.
‘My impression was (the library board) didn’t want to,? he said. ‘I don’t have a comment regarding whether I would support a district library until after I get the facts. I’m interested in getting the facts.?