Frequently Asked Questions about the Library Millage
Where does Flint Public Library get its money to operate?
In Michigan, public libraries receive most of their support from their local communities. The Flint Public Library receives about 90% of its operating revenue from a millage levied on property in the City of Flint. FPL also receives funding from state aid, grants, gifts and fines.
Didn’t we vote a permanent millage for the Flint Public Library?
In 2002, 67% of the voters of Flint approved 2.0 mills “in perpetuity” (permanent millage) and .9 mill for eight years. The .9 mill expires in 2011 and must be renewed to continue library funding.
Why is the Library asking for more money: 1.4 mills to replace the .9 mill?
As property values fall in a community, the amount of money raised by a millage also falls. Because property tax values have declined in Flint, 1.4 mills does not actually give the Library more money. In fact, the total millage of 3.4 mills will raise only about $4.3 million in 2012, while the 2.9 mills raised $4.5 million in 2003 when it was first levied.
How much money will the 1.4 mills cost me?
The cost is based on the taxable value of your home. For an average household in Flint (home value $46,000), the 1.4 mills will cost just under $30 per year. This is only about $11 more than the cost of the .9 mill that is expiring.
What has the Library done to control costs and keep this millage request as low as possible?
- Reduced staffing by 23% since 2004, with more reductions in fiscal 2011
- Scaled back health care plans four times and reviewed for cost savings annually
- Staff agreed to pay 20% of health care premiums
- Staff agreed to no raises in fiscal 2010, and prior raises have never exceeded 2%
- Examined all expenditures down to line item level during the annual budgeting process; bid out services where appropriate; outsourced or “insourced” to achieve lowest cost.
Has the Flint Public Library managed our taxpayer money well?
Yes! The Library’s expenditures have been within revenues from fiscal 2000 through 2009. In fiscal years 2010 and 2011, some fund balance will be expended to fund building repairs and library operations.
If the millage doesn’t pass, will the Flint Public Library close?
If the 1.4 mills do not pass, the Library’s tax revenue will have fallen from $4.9 million in 2007 to $2.4 million by 2013. With that massive revenue loss and the resulting staffing cuts, service at all library branches, including Main, would be drastically reduced, as would programming, because it is staff who plan and implement programs. Though the Library might not close its doors, it would not be the Flint Public Library as we know it today.
Several years ago, I heard talk of a new building. What happened to that project?
We have plans and models for a beautiful building. Once the economy has recovered, we look forward to sharing these plans with the community.
Does this millage support all the branches in the County, like the one on Pasadena, or in the mall?
No. Flint Public Library serves the City of Flint through its Main Library in the Flint Cultural Center, Cody Library, West Flint Library and North Flint Library. The County library system (Genesee District Library) has 19 branches and is a separate system supported by a county-only millage that excludes the City of Flint. Residents of the City pay for the Flint Public Library and residents of the County pay for the Genesee District Library.
Why didn't the two library systems merge back in 2002?
Merger talks ended ten years ago for two main reasons:
- First, the only merger offer that was made was for the Flint Public Library to become a branch of the Genesee District Library. When we talk to most people about a library merger, they picture the end result as a large main library in Flint managing a system of countywide branches. That was never offered in the talks.
- Second, the Genesee District system was not willing to ask for enough millage countywide to run the Flint Public Library. The millage they were willing to raise would have created a $3 million shortfall in the combined budgets of the two systems, almost a 30% cut. The Flint Main Library could not have been sustained on that amount.
Why is there no merger plan now?
- We don't think it would save money. Ten years ago, the study of the two systems found that a merger might save about 5 to 7% of operating costs, which the accountants doing the study called "insignificant." Now, both library systems have cut costs and are running very lean, so we don't believe there would be any cost savings from a merger. In fact, it might be very expensive to combine two different systems with different philosophies and culture.
- The two library systems cooperate well already. Any county resident can have both a Flint Public Library card and a Genesee District Library card and use both systems.
- In order to combine the systems, out-county voters would have to agree to increase their millage rate in order to help support the Flint library. There is no indication that a majority in the out-county are willing to support anything in the City at this time, the latest example of this attitude being last year's defeat of the Hurley millage.
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