JACKSON COUNTY, MI – Jackson County voters will consider an eight-year extension of the Jackson District Library’s operating tax in the November general election.
The proposed 1.7411 millage tax renewal accounts for about 90 percent of the library district’s revenue, bringing in $9 million annually. The rest of the revenue comes from state aid, fines, grants and donations, library officials said.
“Library usage and support is high and we expect it to continue to grow,” said Library Director Liz Breed. “More than 1,000 people visit one of our 13 locations every day, in 2023 our users checked out nearly 1.5 million items, and last year more than 30,000 people attended a program or event.”
The millage was passed by voters in all Jackson County municipalities in 2016. The average home value in Jackson County is $65,000, with the home valued at about $130,000, officials said. The average homeowner in Jackson County would pay about $113 per year if the millage were passed.
If the renewal fails, library officials would have to discuss possible changes to their operations, officials said. Officials have also been working on renovating many of the library’s branches, including in Brooklyn and Spring Arbor, and this renewal will continue that momentum, officials said.
“We want to continue this work and continue to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars by asking only for an extension and not an increase in tax rates for the next eight years,” said Stephen Rajzer, chairman of the board of trustees.
JDL currently employs over 140 people, operates 13 libraries in Jackson County and a bookmobile. The November general election is Tuesday, November 5th.
For more information, visit the JDL website.
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