What will voters see on the ballot? In July, Dayton Metro Library Board of Trustees approved a 1.25 mill replacement levy plus 0.5 mill increase to be placed on the November 3, 2009 ballot. The levy provides about 40% of our funding. [36% for 2009 and 47% for 2010.]

How much will it cost? The existing 1.25-mill levy brings in nearly $9 million annually and costs the owner of a $100,000 home $35.06 a year. The 1.75-mill levy will cost the same property owner $1.55 per month more for a total of $53.59 annually if approved by voters.  The new levy will bring in approximately 13 million annually. Even with the increase, the levy will not bring in enough to make up for the deep cuts in state funding so we are continuing to look for ways to save money with the least possible impact on service.

What is the library doing to cut costs?
We have already:

• Eliminated planned salary increases for all employees
• Instituted unpaid furlough days in 2009 and 2010 for all employees
• Closed all libraries for five days on alternating Thursdays
• Cut $1,000,000 from the book and materials budget
• Left 11 positions vacant
• Eliminated most staff training
• Eliminated all but the most urgent capital expenditures
• We will spend approximately $1.8 million less in 2009 than in 2008

Are libraries still important in the computer age? This is actually a time of historic growth for the Dayton Metro Library. Last year, our users borrowed more than 7.6 million items, the first time we ever circulated seven million items in a year. There was an increase in the amount of books checked out by teens and children, showing that books are still vital and libraries are where young people get reading material. This year we are on pace to break that record, possibly going over eight million items. We also have more visitors than ever. Last year we had about 3.8 million visits and this year we are on pace to exceed four million visits.

What happens if the levy does not pass? A failure of the levy will be a monumental disaster for the community. A loss of levy funds would result in the biggest cuts in the 150 year history of the Dayton Metro Library. Combining a failed levy with the cuts in state funding will result in a DML budget that is less than half of the 2008 budget. It would mean slashing the book and materials budget, eliminating programs and services, closing branches and massive layoffs. Computers would sit idle and books and other media would be inaccessible.

What about the recent proposed state cuts? Due to the shrinking economy public libraries throughout Ohio were expecting to see a 20% cut in state funding.  This summer, Gov. Strickland proposed cutting state funding to libraries by an additional 30% as part of an overall proposal to meet the state’s $3.2 billion budget gap. After thousands of calls and emails from library supporters around Ohio, the additional cuts proposed by Gov. Strickland were reduced by two thirds. This resulted in new cuts to the Dayton Metro Library of $850,000 for 2009 and $1.75 million for 2010. These cuts are in addition to the $3.5 million in cuts already anticipated in 2009. The support from the public was wonderful and made a huge impact in preventing even deeper cuts. The final budget, as passed by the legislature and signed by the Governor, still means another huge reduction for this year and next which has to be addressed by the library.

What are the actual dollar figures for the current budget?

2009 Revenue Losses:

2008 Revenue - $30,300,546
2009 Revenue - $25,327,198 (projected)

Please note that the 2009 amount is a projection. Since the newly signed budget sets state funding for libraries at 1.97 percent of the general revenue fund, the actual amount may change based on tax collection.