Lane Libraries Levy passes, secures long-term funding

Western Butler County residents voted to renew the Lane Libraries levy, with 56.6% in favor and 43.4% against. The levy is continuous, ensuring ongoing funding without requiring future renewal.

The measure maintains the 0.75-mill levy, equating to $15 per $100,000 of appraised property value, according to the county auditor’s website. Property taxes will not increase, as residents will continue to pay the same amount as the previous levy. 

“It’s clear that the people in our communities really value what the library offers and brings to a community,” said Carrie Mancuso, public relations manager for Lane Libraries. “They know that the value and what little they pay through levy dollars really goes a long way to enriching their own lives.”

The levy was first approved in 2010 and renewed in 2015, with the previous renewal set to expire in 2025 if this year’s levy hadn’t passed. The renewed measure is expected to generate more than $2.6 million annually, which accounts for about 30% of the library's revenue. The state provides the remaining 70% of its funding.

In 2008, state funding for the library was reduced by around 30%, prompting the original levy in 2010. Previously, 96% of the Library System’s funding came from the state. Lane has three main locations in Oxford, Hamilton and Fairfield, as well as the Smith Library of Regional History in the Oxford location and the Lane Community Technology Center in Hamilton.

Mancuso said that they decided on a continuous levy due to strong community support, removing the need to appear on the ballot again.

“That was a choice we made because we knew we’ve been very supported in the past and felt that this is something we could do on an continual basis so that we don’t have to keep asking and we can continue to count of these funds moving forward as we plan for a future,” Mancuso said.

The money raised from the levy goes into the library’s operating fund, supporting various programs and initiatives including educational programming and community outreach events. The library also offers home delivery and public outreach events at places such as retirement homes.

“Our storytime programming and our book clubs and things like that are more of the crux of our programming, but a lot of that programming wouldn’t be possible without being fully funded,” Mancuso said.

While the Lane Library levy passed by a comfortable margin, the MidPointe Public Library Levy on ballots for voters in eastern Butler County failed with 56.33% opposing it. That measure would have created an additional 1.25-mill levy for voters in the area, increasing taxes from $14.16 to $43.75 per $100,000 in property value. Mancuso said she was disappointed to see the other levy fail and that Lane Libraries will continue to support MidPointe in the future.

Mancuso said they want to maintain Lane Libraries as a vital support system for Butler County and Oxford residents.

“We feel extremely appreciative that they support us in return because it’s really a two-way street,” Mancuso said. “The support that we receive from this levy enables us to support our community and users of our library.”