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The Library was funded through the City’s operating millage until the Great Recession. Voters approved a five-year, 0.7 mills dedicated library millage to fund library operations on August 2, 2011 and again on November 3, 2015. The current millage expires on June 30, 2021. The proposed new millage is intended to replace the expiring millage so that library operations may continue.

The old library millage was intended to fund library services at Great Recession levels (six days a week). However, it no longer covers the full cost of maintaining or operating the Library. For example, the City’s Capital Projects Fund, not the Library Fund, funded approximately $1.2 million for renovations and roof replacement in fiscal year 2019-2020.

After examining several options, City Council approved a ballot question for the November 3, 2020 election to allow voters to replace the expiring millage with a new millage of up to 1.1 mills for 10 years. There is no Library budget without a library millage. The Library will likely close if voters do not approve the new millage because it is unlikely the City could reduce General Fund spending to replace the $3.5 million annually provided by the current library millage.

What will approval mean for the Troy Public Library?

Library service was reduced from seven days a week (65 hours) to six days a week (55 hours) on July 1, 2010. Approval of the new library millage will allow the Library to restore 7-day service in 2021.

Maintenance includes replacing the windows and repairing the elevator. Both are original equipment dating back to 1984. The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems also need to be replaced.

Furniture replacement is badly needed. Most current furniture is original equipment dating back to 1971 and 1984. Other examples of upgrades include providing study rooms, creating a dedicated teen area, and establishing a maker space, which are the upgrades most frequently requested by library patrons.

Per Capita Spending Comparison

Overall, the new library millage will increase per capita funding from approximately $44 (about 31% less than the average of similar Oakland County libraries) to approximately $68 (about 7% more than the average of similar Oakland County libraries. This funding increase will allow TPL to provide additional and improved services.

20182019OperatingIncomePerCapita
What will approval mean for taxpayers?

If approved, the new library millage will increase the City’s total millage by less than 0.04 mills because the City’s debt millage ends in 2021 and cannot be renewed or replaced without voter approval. In other words, the City’s total millage will increase by only 0.40% if voters approve the new library millage.

To help put this in context, Troy ranked 17 out of 22 comparable Oakland County communities in terms of average residential library tax in 2019. Troy would have ranked 6 out of 22 if the library millage rate had been 1.1 mills instead of 0.6805 mills.

To find out what the new library millage will mean for your household, please visit the Library Millage Estimator.

Still have questions? Review the information below or email LibraryDecision2020@troypl.org!

Funding