Published: September 05, 2008 12:16 pm         

Library tax rate on property to increase

The Rowan County Library Board conducted a public hearing last Wednesday on its intent to increase the property tax rate to raise money for the new library.

The new tax rate is 5.7 cents per $100 of assessed value, compared to the current rate of 5.0 cents per $100.

Property owners can expect to see the new rate on bills they receive beginning in October.

Magistrates Nick Caudill and Ray White attended the hearing to voice concerns about the increase.

Caudill said the new tax rate would affect the economy.

“I am here in my official capacity as magistrate in this county,” Caudill said. “These are difficult times we are in. In the fiscal court we have had to make cuts all across the board. I feel the citizens of this county are paying enough taxes as it is.”

White also expressed concern.

“Our concern is the burdens the tax payers are bearing,” he said. “We've had comments about the tax increases and we are concerned too.”

Library Board member Helen Northcutt explained the reasoning behind the tax rate.

“We have two tax rates we can enact and one is the compensating rate which is required by law for us to raise,” Northcutt said. “The other rate is a 4 percent increase that adds to the previous year.”

The 5.7 cents rate would generate revenue of $477,891, Northcutt said.

Library Director Helen Williams explained the difference between this year’s and last year’s tax rates.

“Last year’s rate was 5.0 cents on $100 which raised $395,579 at the 2007 tax rate. The 5.7 cent per $100 is seven-tenths of a cent per $100 assessed value of real property from last year’s tax rate,” Williams said.

She further explained the role that the compensating rate plays in taxes for the library.

“The compensating rate is a rate that is set by Frankfort to assure entities such as the Rowan County Public Library the same level of income as the past year,” she said. “With the compensating rate, there is no cost of living increase.”

“It’s a good investment for the county and its residents at this level with a minimal burden,” Northcutt said.

Williams said the usage of magazines and computers rose quite a bit in the past year.

“People are saying, they do not have to have the Internet because they can use it at the library,” Williams said. “They do not need magazine subscriptions because they can check them out at the library two weeks at time.”

Williams said computer usage has gone up 46 percent. In fiscal year 2006-07 the library had 15,184 people using the computer and for fiscal year 2007-08 usage was 22,140.

The library had to increase purchases of laptops to accommodate the service needs of the public, Williams said.

“When you have 15 laptops across the counters, there is nowhere for people to sit,” Williams said. “It's a wonderful dilemma. That was my goal when I first came here was to make this a place people can come to make copies, fax papers and use the Internet.”

The library extended its Saturday and Sunday hours due to the large volume of business the facility has incurred recently.

Northcutt said the library had to partition segments of the building to add office space for employees to work away from the public.

“We are not trying to criticize what you are doing,” Caudill said. “We are trying to be informed and represent the public,” he said.

Northcutt praised Caudill and White for their presence at the meeting and for their support they showed for their community.

“We are delighted to have you here and I am pleased to see that officials are taking time to inform themselves of what is going on,” Northcutt said. “I commend you for that.”

The new public library will be built behind Major Brands in Morehead off Beacon Hill. The reason for a new building is that the current one is 5,500-square-feet under par for state regulations, Williams said. The actual footage for the population of the county is 15,500-square-feet for the whole facility. Currently the building is less than 10,000-square-feet. The groundbreaking for the new library is slated for October of this year.