District Library Seeks to Double Property Tax Millage in Low Turn-out Election
In the EUP area of Michigan, the Superior District Library has proposed a property tax millage increase, set to appear on the February 27th primary ballot. The proposed millage will renew the existing .4976 millage and add another .5 to bring the total to .9976. This move comes after a significant defeat of a proposed school millage in the previous November 2023 election, which saw a resounding rejection by voters.
The decision to place the library millage on the February ballot, separate from the controversial school bond—which is likely to be voted on again later in 2024—was strategic. The library board aims to avoid associating its request with the unpopular school millage, hoping for a more positive reception from voters.
Voter turnout is drastically different between primary elections and general elections, with less than 24% participation1 in the 2020 presidential primary, compared to over 68%2 participation in the 2020 general election.
Library Director Waskin outlined several reasons for the timing of the millage proposal during the library board's November meeting3. She emphasized the opportunity for the library to secure necessary funding ahead of the school bond re-vote and noted the potential for success given the expected low-controversy February ballot. The strategy also includes giving the library multiple opportunities within the year to pass the millage if the initial attempt fails.
The proposed tax increase is presented as a solution to inflationary pressures affecting the library's operations. Despite the fact that millage revenues naturally adjust with inflation—demonstrated by an 8.5% revenue increase from property taxes for the library in fiscal year 202345 without altering the millage rate—the library leadership asserts that an increased millage is important for sustaining its existing services.
In the discourse surrounding the proposed millage increase for the Superior District Library, there's also a conversation about the "ratchet effect" in taxes. This concept refers to the tendency for tax rates, once increased, to remain high rather than being adjusted downward when the initial reasons for the increase, such as inflationary pressures, no longer apply.
As the community weighs the merits of the proposed millage increase, the outcome will not only reflect the public's willingness to increase local library funding but also impact how local public bodies request funds in the future.
2020 Presidential Primary - https://www.chippewacountymi.gov/_files/ugd/f7b3c3_09ffb3dc07ef4027b593aa19bbf08f1c.pdf
2020 General Election - https://www.chippewacountymi.gov/_files/ugd/f7b3c3_b42216cb51d34484a4f16d776ae24628.pdf
November Board Minutes - https://www.sdl.michlibrary.org/site-assets/files/superior-district-library-november-27-2023-regular-board-meeting-minutes-pdf.pdf
2022 Library Financials - https://treas-secure.state.mi.us/DocumentSearch/Home/downloaddoc?dyr=2022&doccd=AUD&luid=6162&sqn=1
2023 Library Financials - https://treas-secure.state.mi.us/DocumentSearch/Home/downloaddoc?dyr=2023&doccd=AUD&luid=6162&sqn=1