Voters to decide on library levy

CELINA - Voters served by the Mercer County District Library will decide on a 0.5-mill renewal property tax levy in the Nov. 7 general election.

The county library serves Celina, Marion Local and St. Henry school districts and includes the village of Mendon and small portions of the Minster and New Bremen school districts within Mercer County.

If renewed, the tax levy would generate $317,000 annually. The owner of a home valued at $100,000 would pay about $14 per year. The projected annual budget for the library in 2023 is $1.6 million.

The levy was originally passed in 2009, a year after the state cut the public library fund by 25%. It was renewed by voters in 2013 and again in 2018.

"Our levy has passed with over 70% approval rating each time," a levy fact sheet issued by the library states.

The county library has locations in Celina, Chickasaw, Mendon and St. Henry. In 2022, the county library and its branches checked out nearly 300,000 items, according to the fact sheet.

Additionally, 42,718 items were downloaded through the county library's e-book collection. The online catalog offers access to materials from more than 277 libraries.

Over 44 public computers were used more than 26,000 times and 1,194 programs held in libraries, drawing over 34,757 patrons. The county library also made 462 free notarizations and provided 213,386 copies and prints.

The county library is administered by a seven-member board of library trustees, of whom four are appointed by county commissioners and three by the county common pleas judge. The library board is made up of citizens representing the district.