Election 2022: Fairport Harbor Public Library seeking additional levy

Bill DeBus, The News-Herald, Willoughby, Ohio
·2 min read

Oct. 17—Fairport Harbor Public Library is seeking passage of a 0.2-mill additional levy for current expenses in the Nov. 8 General Election.

If approved, the levy would generate $34,531 per year, and cost taxpayers $17.50 annually per $100,000 in residential property valuation, according to the Lake County Auditor's Office.

Levy funding would be used by the Fairport Harbor Public Library for material purchases, programming and services.

The library hasn't asked voters to approve a new levy in 18 years.

"And over that time, we've been dealing with rising costs and well as lower revenue," said Jim Gutowski, vice president of the Fairport Harbor Public Library trustees board.

Gutowski gave a presentation about the library's levy request during a recent Fairport Harbor Village Council meeting.

One revenue source that has decreased over the years for public libraries throughout Ohio is the state's Public Library Fund.

In 2007, Ohio's libraries were funded through 2.22 percent of the state's total general tax revenue, according to a fact sheet provided by Fairport Harbor Public Library. However, the percentage of state funding dedicated to public libraries was reduced to 1.66 percent in 2021.

When it comes to Fairport Harbor Public Library specifically, the organization's tax revenue — state and local combined — has plummeted significantly over the past 16 years.

In 2021, the library's overall state and local tax revenue totaled $312,600. That's compared to the $413,148 which the library received from the same two combined revenue sources in 2005.

Amid the financial challenges, the library has diversified the ways it serves the community, Gutowski said.

"We've gone from just offering books to also offer things like internet services and passport services," he said. "Last year alone, library staff delivered 900 books to shut-ins around Fairport Harbor Village."

Located at 335 Vine St., the library is marking its 100th anniversary in 2022. It provides services to the community, as well as McKinley Elementary and Fairport Harding Middle and High schools.

Although the library shares space at Harding, it is a separate entity which is not funded by the school district.

There are currently 2,160 registered voters who are eligible to decide the Fairport Harbor Public Library levy in the Nov. 8 election, according to Lake County Elections Board records.