Rising operational costs, new minimum wage law among factors for CTPL to seek additional millage

Clinton Township Public Library staff members Mags Getz, left, and director Mary Gallup, pose for a picture while holding up their cats Ernie and Cheerio, respectively, during the library’s inaugural Clinton Cat Parade and adoption event on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025.

By BRAD HEINEMAN

Clinton Local

Citing rising operational costs, and noting that a perpetual millage voted on in 1968 “is no longer enough to sustain the library’s day-to-day needs,” the Clinton Township Public Library will be asking voters to support a new, additional millage as part of a special election scheduled for May 5.

The Clinton Township Public Library Board made all decisions official regarding the special election and the millage request during its Jan. 19 regular meeting held last week at the library, 100 Brown St.

Voters in May will be asked to support or decline a new 1.00 mill ($1 on each $1,000 of taxable value), 10-year levy for the library — 2026 through 2035 — that will provide funds for operating, maintaining, improving and equipping the library. If the millage is approved, approximately $167,000 will be collected in the first year of the levy.

A helpful guide to the library’s request for additional funding can be found online at clintontownshiplibrary.org/millage2026. The webpage titled “Library Millage Facts,” includes several questions and answers about the millage, as well as what might happen if the millage doesn’t pass in May.

A “Yes” vote means more funding for the library and a “No” vote means no new funding for the library.

“If alternate funding is not provided, the Clinton Township Public Library will be forced to cut back on its services including but not limited to books, hours, programming and other essential services,” the Library Millage Facts webpage says.

A major reason for why the library is asking for additional money is because minimum wage in the state of Michigan will increase to $15/hour beginning Jan. 1, 2027. 

In the library’s approved budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year (not including capital projects), 58% of the budget is for employee and staff wages. The remainder of the budget consists of required maintenance and upkeep, 8%; professional services (accounting, software, lawyer fees, etc.), 7%; books, 6%; utilities, 6% and all other expenses make up less than 15% of the budget.

“Our library is a nonprofit service organization and our budget is about as lean as it can be,” CTPL Board President Nancy Wilt said. “Year after year the line-item budgets have not increased and a few have decreased. Some expenses have been eliminated and due to necessity, some have been added. As in most service providers, our largest expense is salaries and wages. We have a wonderful and dedicated staff who deserve higher increases, but we have held the raises to just the cost-of-living increases. This year, with the new minimum wage legislation, some of the wages will be raised by 15%.”

The library has been able to build up some reserve funds which are held in three separate certificates of deposit, Wilt said. As each matures, “we look for the best available interest rate and either renew the current deposit or move the funds to the institution that offers the best rate.”

Library staff do an “excellent job” of finding grants and donations, and the Friends of the Library is a great source of support, Wilt added.

“As wages and the cost of services increase and the budgeted service line items stay static, we can provide fewer books and fewer programs,” Wilt said.

If the levy passes, property owners will see a tax increase beginning December 2026. The average Clinton Township homeowner will see a tax increase of $96-$130 per year, which according to the library, is “less than most streaming services” at approximately $10/month.

Comparatively, property taxes received by the CTPL are much lower when compared to some neighboring libraries (based on the 2025 fiscal year). CTPL currently receives $152,763 in annual property taxes while the Schultz-Holmes District Library in Blissfield receives $497,924. The Manchester District Library receives $637,037 annually and the Tecumseh District Library receives $1,134,720.

The Clinton Township Public Library was established in 1938 under the 1877 Public Act 164. In November 1968, the community passed a millage proposal for a perpetual millage in the amount of 1.00 mill.

Year in review for CTPL in 2025

More than 20 community/local partnerships were formed; 1,008 books, DVDs, CDs and magazines were acquired; and 20,801 items were checked out from the Clinton Township Public Library during 2025.

A year-in-review recap for the library was presented by CTPL Director Mary Gallup during the library board’s Jan. 19 meeting. The same details in Gallup’s presentation can also be found on the Clinton Township Public Library Facebook page.

There were 24,095 total visits to the library last year, as well as 1,001 active cardholders, according to Gallup’s presentation. For new library cardholders, there were 214 in 2025.

Programming was one of the largest aspects of the library last year. The 383 total programs — from Storytime to teen events, and from book clubs to homeschool meetups — resulted in an attendance of 8,422 patrons.

“We have the most programs of any library in (Lenawee) County,” Gallup said, noting that feat is in addition to the programming offered by the Lenawee District Library and through its six branch locations across the county.

When she joined the library board 10 years ago, Wilt said there was a children’s Storytime offered six times a year and one adult book club that met monthly in the afternoon.

“Today, we have two Storytimes each week, five adult book clubs with various themes that meet at various times of the day and/or evening, teen programs, a monthly craft, a homeschool group and of course books,” Wilt said. “These are just a few of the services the library offers.”