LOUDONVILLE — The Loudonville Public Library is asking voters to renew a 0.8-mill operating levy for five years on the Nov. 3 ballot.
The renewal would keep the existing tax rate rather than increase it.
The levy will cost $19.00 per year for the owner of a home valued at $100,000.
The current levy raises approximately $178,719 annually. About 12% of the library’s operating budget comes from this levy.
The Board of Elections records list a 0.8-mill additional current-expenses levy for the Loudonville Public Library that passed in November 2017. The 0.8-mill renewal levy passed in May 2022.
What does the levy fund?
Levy funds will be used for the library’s operating expenses, which pay for day-to-day needs of the library.
The renewal levy supports services like purchasing books, movies, Library of Things items, Community Passes, and other circulating library materials.
The levy also contributes to computer access and 24/7 wifi availability. The library uses the levy to fund programming for all ages. The Summer Reading Program, Story time, Book Club and Take and Make crafts. The levy also supports public use of the community room.
What happens if the levy fails?
Without levy funding, the library would have to reduce operating hours, staffing, the purchase of new library materials and programming opportunities, according to the library’s Facebook page.
Libraries across the state have faced rising operating costs.
Ohio public libraries are also facing changes in state funding. The Ohio Library Council reported that the amount available for distribution to public libraries fell from $504.6 million in fiscal year 2025 to approximately $479.7 million in fiscal year 2026. The change followed a shift to a fixed state appropriation and transfers from the Public Library Fund to support statewide library services.
Loudonville is one of 16 public library levies appearing on Ohio’s November ballot. Libraries across the state have faced rising costs while changes to state library funding have raised concerns about future revenue.
“With cutbacks in public funding, the levy dollars are more important than ever to keep our Loudonville Public Library strong,” the library posted to Facebook.
Ohio’s general election is Nov. 3. Voters can find election information through the Ashland County Board of Elections.
