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Library to seek levy

Thaddeus Rybczynski looks at a book inside the Cullen Meeting Room after a Thursday, Jan 21, 2010 story time program at the Lane Public Library in Oxford, Ohio. Staff photo by Gary Stelzer

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9:20 AM Friday, January 22, 2010

By Ryan Gauthier

Staff Writer

OXFORD — After undergoing painful budget cuts last fall, Lane Public Libraries is looking to voters for protection against future funding reductions.

The library system, which has a branch at 15 S. College Ave., is in the process of putting a 0.75-mill property tax on the May ballot.

The levy will go before voters living in the boundaries of the Talawanda school district, as well as the Hamilton, Fairfield, Ross, New Miami and most of Edgewood school districts.

“It will be on the ballot for everyone that lives in the school districts we serve,” said spokeswoman Carrie Mancuso.

“We’re really taking a system approach to this. We have one budget and we run this as one library system,” she said. “If it passes it would bring in funds for the whole library system.”

The levy would help secure an estimated $2.58 million in funding for the libraries, Mancuso said. The Lane Board of Trustees has already approved the levy, she said.

“We have done a lot over the last few years to tighten our belts as much as possible and offer our core services without looking at other types of funding,” Mancuso said. “We have tried to stay in line with the budget given by the state, but we’ve reached a point where we don’t think it’s possible anymore.”

Lane Public Libraries reduced its overall budget by approximately $2.1 million last fall through a combination of cuts to staffing and reduced hours at its various branch locations. Lane lost close to $1.1 million in state funding last year, Mancuso said, with expectations that similar cuts are on their way in 2010.

Mancuso said the potential levy money would help offset those losses, but stopped short of saying the 42 eliminated positions would be restored.

“Our first priority is to maintain the services we have now,” she said. “We could potentially add some hours back and potentially add some things back to our materials budget. But we’re just kind of looking at this early point in time.”

In order for an issue to make it onto May ballot, it needs to be filed with the Butler County Board of Elections by Feb. 18.

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2871 or rgauthier@coxohio.com.

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This library system has been so BADLY mismanaged for SO many years it is time for the voters to say that the time for a new director is now! Just ask any of the former employees who were fired -- some even over the phone!

Bob
5:17 PM, 2/5/2010

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I believe we must continue to provide learning, recreation, safety and other essential activities and services to people despite the state of Ohio's budget woes. Only so many budget cuts can be withstood before mediocrity and ineffectiveness prevail. I think the library asking for dedicated funding is a good idea. They have made their budget cuts as required by the state... and now they are taking action to be less dependent on state monies and provide better service.

AAA
7:09 AM, 1/23/2010

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NO MORE TAXES

BRUCE
10:39 AM, 1/22/2010

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