Officials urge voters to make informed choice on upcoming library renewal

By: 
Dennis Mansfield, Contributing Writer

KALKASKA – Voters throughout Kalkaska County will head to the polls in a special election on Tuesday, Aug. 6, where they will be asked to make a number of decisions.

One of those choices will be whether to renew a five-year, 2.5-mill operation levy that helps support the Kalkaska County Public Library. According to library officials, it’s the same millage voters previously passed in 2008 and 2014.

“Just a simple millage renewal,” said Diana Needham, president of the KCPL Board of Trustees.

Needham said she won’t tell people how to vote. After all, that’d be illegal. But, she is hoping voters know the importance of the millage and what it helps provide.

“Make an informed vote,” she said. “And, please get out and vote.”

Among the key factors of the millage is its financial importance to KCPL operations, with the $195,000 generated by the levy annually making up about two-thirds of the library’s yearly revenues.

The library also receives funds through grants, donations and penal fines. But, Needham said those are not always “stable” forms of funding, compared to the operational millage.

“(Penal fines) are going down,” she added. “And, they’re so unpredictable.”

Yet, while some funding sources are down, Needham said it comes at a time when participation in a variety of library programs continues to grow.

An example of one key service provided by the library, according to the KCLP board president, is free access to the numerous computers at the library and access to the internet. It becomes even more important when considering that about 60 percent of Kalkaska County households don’t have immediate internet access.

“This gives access to people who don’t usually have it,” Needham said. “They come to the library to search for jobs, to apply for jobs.”

Read the full story in our regular edition of The Review. To subscribe to the paper for just $34 a year, which includes access to our full online e-edition, please go to the subscription page on this website at: http://www.antrimreview.net/subscribe/

 

Category:

The Review

 

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 313
Bellaire, MI 49615
Phone: 231-533-5651
Fax: 231-533-4662
 
Physical Address: 
4470 S. M-88 Hwy.
Bellaire, MI 49615

View Map

Email Us

Facebook Facebook Twitter

Latest articles

Wed, 03/27/2024 - 2:06pm
Wed, 03/27/2024 - 2:05pm
Wed, 03/27/2024 - 2:04pm

Please Login for Premium Content