CINCINNATI -- Issue 7 for the Cincinnati and Hamilton Co. public libraries has passed with 100% of the precincts reporting.
The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County has one of the highest per-capita lending rates in the country.
At the same time, the system also is experiencing significant cutbacks in funding from the State of Ohio due to the recession.
That’s why voters were asked to approve a tax levy of 1.0 mil on Nov. 3. It will help fill the funding gap for operations and maintenance of library branches.
The levy will produce $100 million over five years. The cost for the owner of a $100,000 home is about $30 a year.
Founded in 1853, the library was the nation’s first metropolitan, countywide system. State funding has made up about 90 percent of the operational dollars. No local money has been provided. It’s the only library system in Ohio to be funded that way.
State support for the system has gone down from $53 million in 2000 to around $38 million in 2009. In response, the library has reduced staff, budget and hours of operation. Capital projects have been canceled and renovations postponed.
Opposition to the levy came from the citizen organization COAST (Coalition Opposed to Additional Spending & Taxes). Member Tom Brinkman is critical of the library loaning out movies and other items that require a fee at regular businesses. He also suggests the library revise its penalty policies for items that are returned late.
