Ohio voters came to the rescue of their beloved libraries.
Of the state's 251 systems, about 15 percent had levies before voters. All but eight of the tax measures passed. One big winner was the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County. They will see $100 million over five years thanks to a property tax increase.
The Ohio Library Council says no Ohio election has ever had more library levies before voters. Library systems throughout the Buckeye State are struggling with dramatically decreased state funding, cutting hours, services, staff and material purchases.
Locally, Mahoning County's library system won in a runaway, gathering 71 percent of the vote in favor of the 1-mill renewal. The Warren-Trumbull County library system has two continuous levies which together also generate one mill for their system.
These local revenue streams help cushion the blow of state cutbacks, but the success stories Tuesday give library boards pause, as they wonder if they too should seek to plug holes in their budget by asking voters for help.
"We're looking at taking a survey," said Jim Wilkins, director of the Warren-Trumbull Public Library.
Wilkins said how the survey would be done is still being decided, noting that professional surveys cost money. The Warren-Trumbull system is seven libraries working together, but Trumbull County has other independent libraries such as in Kinsman and Hubbard, which have no local levies in place.
In an election that sent mixed messages, the library systems of Ohio stood out as voters judged what was worth paying for, and what was not.
