I want staff to know that a Special Board Meeting has been scheduled for Thursday February 12 at 9:00 a.m.  In that meeting the Trustees will consider postponing the library levy until November.

After last week's official action by the Board of County Commissioners to place the Library Board approved issue on the May 5th ballot we received word from the Board of Elections that the election is being considered a "special election" and not a "primary election." The consequence is that the cost to the Board could be as high as $700,000.

The Boards of Elections have recently been given the latitude to consider the spring election in odd numbered years as "special elections" when no primaries are on the ballot.  Due to this change to election laws, the library could be charged as much $1500 per prescient for nearly 500 precincts.

By comparison, the Board paid $18,113 in 2004 for placing the levy on the March 2, 2004 "primary" ballot.

I think everyone will agree that as soon as we were told about the cost of placing the operating issue on the May ballot we had to take steps to postpone the issue until November. Our finances are so tight right now that we simply cannot afford the fees associated with filing for what is now considered a "special election."

Furthermore, funding for the Dayton Metro Library system is so important for our library and our region's future that we believe everyone should have the opportunity to cast a ballot on our operating issue.  Without even a mayoral primary race in the City of Dayton, too few people would have come to the polls on Election Day.

Our need for local funding is very real and we will be on the ballot in November to replace our current operating issue.  We need to make up the funding gap caused by large reductions in state revenue over the past 10 years and the increased cost of supplying our branches with up to date books and materials.  In this economy, more people rely on their local library and we are working hard to meet those needs.

All staff need to be focused on the best public service possible and we will continue meeting the most pressing needs of our community; contributing to school readiness, aiding in workforce and business development, and providing quality collections and programs to all residents.

Tim Kambitsch
Executive Director