Library?s tax levy to be on April 2 ballot

Greene County voters will be deciding on a proposal for a tax levy increase when they hit the polls April 2.

The Springfield-Greene County Library District's board of trustees voted to place the 5-cent increase per $100 of as-sessed value on the ballot. If passed, the measure will re-es-tablish the 25-cent levy ap-proved 22 years ago.

According to a release from the library, the increase would generate about $1.6 million a year.

The impact on an owner of a $100,000 home is estimated to be $9.50 per year, or 80 cents per month.

Survey results

The release stated that in an extensive study, citizen input and two surveys were considered in the decision to seek the increase. The most recent survey, a telephone survey conducted earlier this month by Opinion Research Specialists, confirmed that a majority of voters would support the increase.

Furthermore, a random sampling of those who voted in the April 2000 election found that 53 percent of respondents favored the passage of the tax levy increase.

"The money that the higher tax levy will generate will enable us to meet the growing demand for library services," said Library Executive Director Annie Busch. "The public's access to computers and databases has fueled an increased interest in print materials and has created greater need for more technology and books."

Specifically, the additional revenue would be used to in-crease the annual budget for books and other materials to $500,000, making the total budget for books approximately $2 million annually; to reinstate an annual budget of $200,000 to buy computers and other technology; to extend hours at all branch libraries; and to add Sunday hours to the Kearney Branch.

The new monies also would be used to replace the Kearney Branch located near the corner of Kearney and Grant since 1967 with a library triple the size of the existing branch. If the levy passes, construction is scheduled to be complete by 2004.

Eight libraries make up the district, including four in Springfield Brentwood, Kearney and Midtown Carnegie Branches and the Library Cen-ter and four in the towns of Ash Grove, Willard, Fair Grove and Republic, respectively.