Save the Mason Library Levy Committee

Frequently Asked Levy Questions

What is the library levy and why is it necessary?

Due to severe budget reductions to Ohio libraries since 2006, libraries have lost 31% of their funding. In 2010, libraries expect to lose another 7% in state revenues. We must now ask the residents of Deerfield Township and the City of Mason to vote on The Mason Public Library Levy, a .75 mill continuous operating levy. This will restore lost funding from the State of Ohio, our only source of funding. We need this in order to reinstate and secure current and future Library services for Mason and Deerfield Township. As good guardians of public funding, we have been able to deal with shortfalls since 2006 and have never asked for help. With the projected reductions for 2010 and 2011, our currently reduced service mode will experience even greater reductions. This means our library services and hours will be minimal.

Why do you need money if you are digging up the property for an addition?

We are not preparing for an addition. The digging is a city project to replace the sewer lines which cross our property.

How will levy funds be used?

The levy will fund the day-to-day operations of the Mason Public Library and provide sufficient funds to:

Restore the materials budget so that we can continue purchasing books, DVDs, audio books, magazines, newspapers and on-line services. This has been reduced significantly in the last four years.
Continue our many programs for children, teens and adults
Continue providing library services for people who are homebound or in nursing homes
Continue supplying computers and other current technology for writing resumes, job searching, general internet access and the library catalog
Restore lost hours of operation for greater patron access

How much will the levy cost me?

The cost to homeowners is just $22.96 per year for a home valued at $100,000 by the county auditor. That’s under $1.92 per month. Total annual yield of the levy is estimated to be $1,520,800. This is a fixed amount and will not increase as the local tax base increases.

Why is the library important? We benefit Deerfield Township and Mason by:

Providing opportunities for literacy. Our children’s programs develop reading skills that help your children perform better in school. In 2008 we presented 210 programs attended by 26,000 children and adults. Through our partnerships with schools, we provide school age children with the materials and homework assistance necessary for them to succeed in the classroom. The Summer Reading Program keeps children of all ages reading at high levels and ready for the upcoming school year. We are an essential resource to parents seeking reading readiness programs and materials for preschool children. The library actively partners with the Warren County Adult New Readers Service to provide space, materials and tutors to mentor adults needing to develop their reading and comprehension skills and those needing tutoring in English as a Second Language.
Promoting lifelong learning. Mason and Deerfield Township residents visited our library over 98,000 times and checked out over 870,000 items in 2008. Through our partnerships with other libraries, we provide access to millions of items. Libraries provide unlimited opportunities for people of all ages to discover, learn and grow.
Improving quality of life for the homebound. The library helped the homebound and residents of senior facilities stay connected to the rest of the world by delivering 17,200 items to these patrons in 2008. Having personal contact with our staff is a bright spot in their day, and the materials we provide help exercise the mind, especially during long periods of illness.
Providing computer resources. Patrons used our internet connection over 29,500 times in 2008 to write resumes, apply for jobs, and stay connected with friends and family. Patrons also saved time and money by requesting and renewing over 25,000 items via our website.

Why is the library a sound investment of taxpayer money?

The Nine Libraries study showed that Southwestern Ohio’s Libraries provide a return on investment of 381% to our taxpayers. Access to our materials and services saves you money every day. When looking for a place to live or do business, most investors look for high quality schools, library and city services… issues are important to the residents of Deerfield Township and Mason.

Didn’t you just do a levy campaign for the November election?

No! The Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County along with other libraries in Warren County had successful levy campaigns in November 2009. We were waiting to see what the State’s actual funding situation would be for the upcoming years in order to reliably predict what we would need to stabilize our budget.

When will the Library receive the funds after being approved by the Voters?

We will not see the increased income until early 2011, even though the election is in May 2010.

What happens if the levy fails?

100% of our funding comes from the State of Ohio. Due to the rapid decline in funding from the State (with the prospect of even greater losses), we anticipate being forced to severely reduce our operations. We will open a few hours a week, focus on providing online services and attempt to keep the mechanical functions of our building operational for the future. It means that we will be severely limiting services to the public until either State funding recovers or a levy can be passed. Rev 2-17-10


	FREQUENTLY ASKED LEVY QUESTIONS Frequently Asked Levy Questions What is the library levy and why is it necessary? Due to severe budget reductions to Ohio libraries since 2006, libraries have lost 31% of their funding. In 2010, libraries expect to lose another 7% in state revenues. We must now ask the residents of Deerfield Township and the City of Mason to vote on The Mason Public Library Levy, a .75 mill continuous operating levy. This will restore lost funding from the State of Ohio, our only source of funding. We need this in order to reinstate and secure current and future Library services for Mason and Deerfield Township. As good guardians of public funding, we have been able to deal with shortfalls since 2006 and have never asked for help. With the projected reductions for 2010 and 2011, our currently reduced service mode will experience even greater reductions. This means our library services and hours will be minimal. Why do you need money if you are digging up the property for an addition? We are not preparing for an addition. The digging is a city project to replace the sewer lines which cross our property. How will levy funds be used? The levy will fund the day-to-day operations of the Mason Public Library and provide sufficient funds to: Restore the materials budget so that we can continue purchasing books, DVDs, audio books, magazines, newspapers and on-line services. This has been reduced significantly in the last four years. Continue our many programs for children, teens and adults Continue providing library services for people who are homebound or in nursing homes Continue supplying computers and other current technology for writing resumes, job searching, general internet access and the library catalog Restore lost hours of operation for greater patron access How much will the levy cost me? The cost to homeowners is just $22.96 per year for a home valued at $100,000 by the county auditor. That’s under $1.92 per month. Total annual yield of the levy is estimated to be $1,520,800. This is a fixed amount and will not increase as the local tax base increases. Why is the library important? We benefit Deerfield Township and Mason by: Providing opportunities for literacy. Our children’s programs develop reading skills that help your children perform better in school. In 2008 we presented 210 programs attended by 26,000 children and adults. Through our partnerships with schools, we provide school age children with the materials and homework assistance necessary for them to succeed in the classroom. The Summer Reading Program keeps children of all ages reading at high levels and ready for the upcoming school year. We are an essential resource to parents seeking reading readiness programs and materials for preschool children. The library actively partners with the Warren County Adult New Readers Service to provide space, materials and tutors to mentor adults needing to develop their reading and comprehension skills and those needing tutoring in English as a Second Language. Promoting lifelong learning. Mason and Deerfield Township residents visited our library over 98,000 times and checked out over 870,000 items in 2008. Through our partnerships with other libraries, we provide access to millions of items. Libraries provide unlimited opportunities for people of all ages to discover, learn and grow. Improving quality of life for the homebound. The library helped the homebound and residents of senior facilities stay connected to the rest of the world by delivering 17,200 items to these patrons in 2008. Having personal contact with our staff is a bright spot in their day, and the materials we provide help exercise the mind, especially during long periods of illness. Providing computer resources. Patrons used our internet connection over 29,500 times in 2008 to write resumes, apply for jobs, and stay connected with friends and family. Patrons also saved time and money by requesting and renewing over 25,000 items via our website. Why is the library a sound investment of taxpayer money? The Nine Libraries study showed that Southwestern Ohio’s Libraries provide a return on investment of 381% to our taxpayers. Access to our materials and services saves you money every day. When looking for a place to live or do business, most investors look for high quality schools, library and city services… issues are important to the residents of Deerfield Township and Mason. Didn’t you just do a levy campaign for the November election? *No! The Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County along with other libraries in Warren County had successful levy campaigns in November 2009.* We were waiting to see what the State’s actual funding situation would be for the upcoming years in order to reliably predict what we would need to stabilize our budget. When will the Library receive the funds after being approved by the Voters? We will not see the increased income until early 2011, even though the election is in May 2010. What happens if the levy fails? 100% of our funding comes from the State of Ohio. Due to the rapid decline in funding from the State (with the prospect of even greater losses), we anticipate being forced to severely reduce our operations. We will open a few hours a week, focus on providing online services and attempt to keep the mechanical functions of our building operational for the future. It means that we will be severely limiting services to the public until either State funding recovers or a levy can be passed. Rev 2-17-10 \| Return Home \| About Us \| Save the Mason Library Levy Committee \| Book Sales \| Essay Winners 2010 \| FAQ Page \| Contact Us \|