State Representative Scott Dianda to Receive Award at Portage Lake District Library

The Portage Lake District Library will host an event for the Michigan Library Association on Friday, August 18, from 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. to thank State Representative Scott Dianda for his support in getting legislation passed that supports library funding.

For more than two decades, the Michigan Library Association and the library community have been fighting for a voice in the use of specially dedicated library millages by tax capture authorities such as Downtown Development Authorities (DDA), Tax Increment Finance Authorities (TIFA), and others. These entities capture a portion of library millages for use on their own projects often against libraries’ choice and without locally voting taxpayer’s knowledge or approval. When proposed special library millages disclose the required tax capture allocation, the millages are often defeated.

Dianda voted in favor of SB 619-624, which makes libraries exempt from Tax Captures from authorities. To celebrate the passing of this legislation, Library Director Dillon Geshel and Superiorland Library Cooperative Director Pam Christensen will present Dianda with an award. The public is invited and refreshments will be served.

For more information, please call the library at 482-4570.