Why is the Community Library asking voters to approve a bond levy?
When the current building opened in 1994, the Community Library was serving a population of approximately 15,000. Since then, our service population has increased by almost 85% to over 27,000 residents. As the community grows, use of the library also increases. Almost 600 people visit the library daily. Annually, 300,000 books are borrowed and 26,000 people attend library programs. As the Big Walnut area continues to grow, we need more space for programs, collections, and public use.
What are the details of the bond levy?
The Community Library is seeking approval to issue bonds in the amount of $19 million for an addition to the existing building. The term of the bonds will not exceed 30 years. The bond levy will be for 0.63 mills, which will cost a homeowner only $22 per every $100,000 of the auditor’s appraised value.
How does the addition benefit the community?
The addition will allow the library to not only increase seating areas and collection size, but it will enable the library to respond to needs that the community has asked for during our planning process. Specifically, the addition will:
- Expand the children’s area by 91%, including a dedicated storytime room.
- Provide teens with a dedicated area that is five times the current size.
- Allow us to create a tween room for middle school-aged children.
- More than double our current meeting room space.
- Add four additional private study rooms.
- Provide outdoor seating and programming areas.
- Increase the size of our local history room.
- Give library guests ample parking.
How long will it take to complete the project?
There are many factors that influence the schedule. However, we plan to start design soon after the passage of the bond and begin construction about 10 months after that. If all goes as planned, we hope the addition will be completed sometime in 2028.
Didn't voters just approve a levy for the library?
Voters approved the Community Library’s 1 mill operating levy in 2023. The operating levy supports the day-to-day operating expenses of the library and expires every five years. While funds from the operating levy can be used for smaller building projects and repairs, it does not generate enough to fund a larger construction project of this nature.
What happens if the bond levy fails?
This bond levy is critical to the future of the Community Library. If the bond levy fails, we will have discussions with the community to determine our next course of action. However, scaling back the project or phasing it in is problematic. By tackling this expansion as a single project, we can save time and money through economies of scale and by eliminating duplication in effort.
