Library board votes as Clinton Township Public Library seeks new, additional millage

The Clinton Township Public Library Board voted and approved at its Monday, Jan. 19, meeting the ballot language proposal to hold a special election in May asking for the public’s support to levy a new, additional millage. Pictured are, from left, CTPL Director Mary Gallup, Trustee Deb Rutherford, President Nancy Wilt, Vice President Paul Warr, Secretary Shelby Dwyer and Trustee Emily Gala.

By BRAD HEINEMAN

Clinton Local

Voters in Clinton Township will get their fair share of heading out to the voting polls during this year’s 2026 election cycle.

A total of three elections are expected to be on the docket throughout the year including an August primary and the November general election. Kicking off the voting, meanwhile, will be a special election scheduled for May 5 on behalf of the Clinton Township Public Library asking for the public’s support to levy a new, additional millage in an amount not to exceed 1.00 mill ($1 on each $1,000 of taxable value) for 10 years — 2026 through 2035.

The Clinton Township Public Library Board, at its Monday evening meeting Jan. 19 on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, discussed the ballot measure details, heard from community residents about the millage proposal and voted to approve the language resolution for holding a special election in early May. All library board members were present at Monday’s meeting with the exception of Trustee Jake Hollenbeck.

According to the approved resolution — which set the library’s ballot language proposal — the library board determined that placing the millage request on the ballot at the May 5, 2026, election “is in the best interest of the health, safety and welfare of the township residents.”

The library board also reached the determination that seeking an additional 1.00 mill “is necessary for the support and maintenance of the library.”

In its first year, the estimate of revenue to be collected — if the ballot measure is passed by voters — would be approximately $167,000. By law, revenue from this millage will be disbursed to the Clinton Township Public Library, and it will be subject to the Headlee Amendment, which means the actual amount received will be rolled back.

In 1978, the Headlee Amendment was passed which rolls back the amount received from millages. It mandates a millage percentage decreases when property values increase faster than inflation.

“The library will be sponsoring a special election in May to ask for a 10-year millage at the rate of 1.00 mill,” CTPL Director Mary Gallup confirmed in an email.

Several factors went into the library’s decision to seek additional funding from the community, Gallup explained.

The decision is based on the age of the library’s 35-year-old building and some things within the building falling apart or in need of repair; the minimum wage rate rising to $15 an hour starting in January 2027; as well as the general cost of materials, supplies and increasing expenses.

The minimum wage factor, specifically, has risen over the past couple of years from $12.48 an hour to $13.37 an hour. The transition to $15-an-hour will affect the library’s next budget, Gallup said. CTPL has an operating fiscal year from April 1 through March 31.

Wages constitute 58% of the library’s fiscal year budget (not including capital projects).

“Also worth noting, the library’s main book vendor was bought out last fall, and I have had to shop around for different book vendors each month which is time consuming and more expensive,” added Gallup.

A common question that the library said it has fielded over the past couple of months when considering the special election, is why wouldn’t the library wait to place the ballot measure on the August primary?

“Statistics have shown that millages and bonds are more likely to pass at special elections,” Gallup continued in her email to The Clinton Local. “Simple. We would still need to pay a fee to participate in the August election, but it would be much, much lower. The library board believes it would be more beneficial and cost effective to go for the election in May. Prior to making the decision, I attended webinars and trainings hosted by the Library of Michigan with a library law consultant and a library attorney who have all advised that having a library millage on a special election is more effective.”

As for what the taxpayer costs might be for the when the library conducts a special election, that number would be zero, Gallup further explained.

“We received an anonymous donation of $4,892.15 that will be used specifically to cover the costs of the millage proposal, including the lawyer fees, election costs, publication, etc.,” Gallup reported during Monday’s library board meeting.

“No taxpayer dollars will be used to hold an election in May,” she continued.

While public comment was brief during the meeting, all five of the commenters spoke about the library’s pursuit of an additional millage.

Clinton Township Clerk Kim Scott had voiced her concerns about holding a special election at the library board’s December meeting, as well as publicly mentioning the special election at the Jan. 12 township board meeting. Scott was the first speaker at Monday’s library board meeting.

“My goal is to ensure that both the (library) board and our residents have the information necessary to make a well-informed decision,” she said.

In her comments made at the Jan. 12 township meeting, Scott said the library currently receives 1.00 mill, which is the same millage rate received by the township.

“For context, if an additional 1.00 mill is requested and approved, the library’s total millage would exceed that of the fire department, which currently receives 1.6 mills,” she said.

The library’s existing millage generates $152,000 annually.

“This would essentially double the library’s taxable income,” Scott continued. “While local institutions occasionally need funding for special projects or rising operating costs, a 100% increase for daily operations is a significant request.”

Meanwhile, resident and avid library patron Therese Dupree said what the library does for the community cannot be expressed in words, but instead, “you actually have to see it for yourself.”

“$10, $12 a month, for what this library does, what it offers to the community is worth it,” Dupree said during public comment.

The average Clinton Township homeowner is expected to see a tax increase of $96-$130 per year, if the additional millage request is approved by voters. Property owners would see a tax increase beginning December 2026.

According to the library, if alternate funding is not provided, CTPL will be forced to cut back on its services including but not limited to books, hours, programming and other essential services. 

A “Yes” vote on May 5 means more funding for the library, while a “No” vote means no new funding for the library.