Bloomfield Township Public Library seeks millage renewal

BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP — The Bloomfield Township Public Library plans to ask voters to approve a millage renewal in February that officials say would keep the library on solid financial footing.

On the Feb. 27 presidential primary ballot, Bloomfield Township residents will be asked to consider renewing the library’s existing millage rate, which Library Director Tera Moon said would allow the library to maintain its current level of funding.

The library — which serves the 44,235 residents of Bloomfield Township with resources, technology, and support for all ages — is supported by three separate millage rates, two that are levied in perpetuity and one that expires at the end of 2023.

The Feb. 27 proposal will ask Bloomfield Township voters to consider renewing the 2023 expiring millage at the current rate of 0.5047 mill for 10 years.

“That millage accounts for 27% of our current revenue, so it’s really important to the library operations,” Moon explained.

Voters approved a 10-year levy of 0.5410 mill in 2014. Moon said the current rate of 0.5047 mill is a result of Headlee rollbacks. The renewal, she added, will not increase current tax payments and would continue to cost the average taxpayer approximately $151 per year on a home with a taxable value of $300,000.

Taxpayers, she added, will see a lower tax bill from the library in 2024 as a 20-year bond payment for a 2008 building improvements project is now paid off.

“There were bonds that were sold 20 years ago in order to do the building improvement project for the library, the way it is now, and that is expiring as well, so voters are going to see a reduction in their tax bill, in terms of the library this year, no matter what,” she said.

If the millage renewal passes, the library will work to achieve the goals of the 2023-2025 strategic plan, which Moon said all focus on making the library “as inclusive and excellent as possible” for residents. The funding, she explained, would allow the library to retain current service levels, hours and staffing; maintain and grow up-to-date collections of books and media; expand technology and digital resources; reimagine library spaces; continue offering a variety of library programming; and repair and maintain its building and grounds, including to the roof and lower level.

“Our building is 15 years old now, and parts of it are going on 60 years old, so there are always repairs and renovations that need to be made,” she explained. “Our parking lot’s not in the greatest shape. We have some roofing problems. We have a flooding problem on our lower level that we have been trying to tackle for many, many years — so there are many building maintenance needs that we have.”

If the millage renewal fails, Moon said the library would have to make “serious cuts to hours, services, staffing and programming.” She said that could potentially mean fewer programs for children and adults, limited building improvements, less access to new technology and digital resources and limited collections.

People can learn more about the millage renewal proposal during two upcoming public informational sessions at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Feb. 15 at the library. All are welcome, and no registration is required to attend the informational sessions.

“As someone who lives in the township and is raising a family in the township, the library is so much more than just a place where we check out books — it’s a place where we meet; we’ve had playdates there; and lately, it’s become a place where people charge their phones when there’s a power outage. We don’t have any parks in the township, so it really is a community hub for so many people, so it is such an important part of our community for people of all ages,” said Library Board President Dani Gillman. “I feel like the library is such a special place, because everybody is welcome and everybody has the same access to all of what is offered in the library no matter what you look like, what’s in your wallet, what language you speak, and that is such a special thing.”

More information about the millage renewal proposal can be found at btpl.org/millage-renewal.

For more information, call the library at (248) 642-5800 or visit www.btpl.org.