The Jefferson County Library Board hopes voters in June will support an additional 9 mills — currently $141,534 — in annual funding for the Boulder and Whitehall libraries, a 43.4% increase over current funding. The Jefferson County Commission first must approve putting the funding question on the ballot.
The proposed amount reflects the current value of 9 mills at $15,726 per mill and would vary annually with changes in property valuations. The proposed increase would cost affected taxpayers an additional $12.15 in annual taxes on a home worth $100,000 or $24.30 on a home worth $200,000, according to figures provided to the board by Jefferson County Clerk and Recorder Bonnie Ramey.
The board on Jan. 16 approved a draft resolution outlining its request that must now go before the county commissioners for a vote. The resolution states the additional monies would go toward expanding community programming, purchasing technology including databases, hiring additional part-time librarians and covering maintenance costs at both libraries.
