Franklin voters will come across a village library millage proposal on their November ballots.
By: Mary Genson | Birmingham-Bloomfield Eagle | Published October 14, 2024
FRANKLIN — Voters in the village of Franklin will decide on a 0 .2018 mill library tax Nov. 5.
The library’s current tax was first approved in 1973 for 1 mill. Due to the Headlee Amendment, that amount was reduced to under 0.6 mill.
Officials said the proposal would replace funds lost to the Headlee Amendment over time — amounting to over 40% over the last 50 years.
The Headlee Amendment to the Michigan Constitution requires local governments to reduce their millage rates if taxable values go up higher than the rate of inflation. It was, in part, designed to protect property owners from tax increases due to property values increasing beyond the rate of inflation.
Instead of changing the original tax of 1 mill, the measure would be a new tax of just over 20 cents on each $1,000 of taxable value. One mill equals $1 for every $1,000 of taxable value.
It is estimated that the village would collect approximately $90,000 in the first year of the levy.
Village Trustee Pamela Hanson said, “Voters should definitely vote yes on this renewal.”
The funds from this millage would go directly to the Franklin Public Library to pay for operation and maintenance costs.
“We just want to have suitable funds to allow us to maintain and enhance our building envelope,” said Rick David, the treasurer on the Franklin Public Library board of directors.
The library is an old building, which comes with maintenance costs. Some examples David mentioned are installing a new historically accurate roof, waterproofing the basement and replacing deteriorated windows. He said the library is also looking at extending its hours of operation and adding new programs. The library is currently listed as being open 47 and a half hours per week: 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; noon-8 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays; and 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays.
David added that the cost of books, magazines and other resources offered by the library has gone up since the millage was first approved in 1973.
“We are just trying to live up to our mission statement, which is to connect the community through materials, services and information in order to further education, recreation and lifelong learning for all residents,” David said.
For more information on the Franklin Public Library and their resources for the community, visit, franklin.lib.mi.us.
For more information on the November election, visit oakgov.com/government/clerk-register-of-deeds/elections-voting.
Franklin Library Millage Proposal
Shall the tax limitation on all taxable property within the Village of Franklin, Oakland County, Michigan, be increased and the Village be authorized to levy annually a new additional millage in an amount not to exceed .2018 mill ($0.2018 on each $1,000 of taxable value) in perpetuity beginning with the 2025 levy, for the purpose of operating, maintaining, and equipping the Franklin Public Library and for all other library purposes authorized by law? This millage would restore a portion of amount of the originally voted millage rate lost because of the Headlee Amendment millage reduction. The estimate of the revenue the Village will collect in the first year of levy (2025) if the millage is approved is approximately $90,000. By law, revenue from this millage will be disbursed to the Franklin Public Library.