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On November 7th, 2017 City of Houghton and Portage Township voters will be asked whether or not to continue supporting their library. The proposal would provide for a 7-year renewal of the 1.96 mill property tax that generates the majority of the library’s revenue. The proposal will not ask for any additional new millage. It merely continues a levy that has been in place for over 20 years.
1.96 mills for a period of 7 years will produce an estimated $460,000 per year to maintain the Library’s services, programs, and operations. The rate of 1.96 mills will cost $1.96 per $1,000 of taxable property. The average cost per household in the City of Houghton is $97 a year, or $8.08 a month. The average cost per household in Portage Township is $64 a year, or $5.33 a month.
The Portage Lake District Library is almost entirely funded by the revenues of the dedicated property tax. The tax generates funding for over 85% of all expenses including operating costs, materials, technology, and staffing as well as maintenance and repairs. Without a dedicated property tax to support the Library, operations would have to be paid for out of savings, depleting all reserve funds. Eventually, if a millage can’t be set, there would be nothing left and the Library would have to close.
Residents of the City of Houghton and Portage Township may vote on November 7, 2017. To register to vote or for additional voting information, visit www.michigan.gov/vote .
For more information on the library’s millage renewal, visit www.pldl.org, or call the library Director at 482-4570, x 2.
