The Ann Arbor District Library will consider a .025 increase in its millage rate as part of its proposed budget.
That would raise the rate from 1.55 to 1.575 mills, and cost a home with a taxable value of $100,000 an additional $2.50 annually.
The Ann Arbor District Library's downtown library is at Fifth and William.
Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com file photo
The millage would generate an additional $383,000, but loss of revenue from other sources means the library will only come up with an additional $185,000.
That will go to pay for 3 percent merit raises and give part-time employees a bump to more than $9 an hour.
“This is only the second time in five years that we’ve given raises,” AADL Board President Prue Rosenthal said. “We want to give them raises because they are very deserving and the tax base is doing better.”
Employees didn’t receive any raises from 2008 to 2011, but did receive raises last year. The library has a staff of around 200.
The AADL can levy as much as 1.92 mills and lowered the millage to its current rate in 2008 because of the recession. It generated $11,370,000 last year. The proposed budget for next fiscal year is $12.475 million.
Treasurer Nancy Kaplan said the library isn’t expecting an increase in state aid dollars and is expecting to receive less money on fees and fines.
“We’re trying to make up for where we are not expecting the same revenue we had last year,” she said.
Trustee Ed Surovell expressed opposition to the millage hike. He acknowledged that it is a “diminutive” increase, but said he would have preferred that the board find the savings in the budget.
“I usually believe we can find a way to balance our budget without changing the millage,” he said. “It’s more the way it sounds than the way it is. It sounds like we’re raising taxes, but the amount of money we're raising; it isn’t worth bothering with. I’d rather solve the problem by finding the money in the budget.”
Library patrons outside the Ann Arbor District Library's downtown branch expressed support for the proposal, though residents will not vote on the increase.
Mark Lister said the addition to his tax bill would be so small that he didn't have an issue with it.
"If there haven't been regular raises the last five, six years and it's that small of an amount, then, yes, I can see where this is a good idea," he said. David Chernin said he was opposed to the Ann Arbor Library bond that was defeated in November, but supported the millage increase for staff raises.
"The employees do a good job and they deserve a raise that will help at least keep up with inflation," he said, adding that would like to see some money go to purchasing more books.
Tom Perkins is a freelance reporter. Contact the AnnArbor.com news desk at news@annarbor.com.