-Additional enhancements to programming
-Investing in our Library staff
-Increased selections of Large Print books
-Expanded outreach efforts to all aspects of our community.
-Expanded E-materials including additional E-Book & E-Audiobooks, expanded music and movie selections
-More database options for students & local business owners
-Replace worn & outdated technology & purchase newer technologies as they come out.
-Complete Integration with our physical & digital resources into one easy to use digital interface allowing you to check our local collection & digital collection at the same time
-Replace current shelving with more accessible options making it easier for children & patrons with mobility issues find their books easier
-Utilize our recently completed Strategic Plan to make our current branch more attractive & updated to fit our community needs better.
-Modernization and update of our current facility at the Community Center
-Access to both State & Federal aid, thereby allowing our local dollars to be spent on more important resources and needs

-Cut & Reduce programs, remaining programs will require usage fees to participate
-Eliminate School Outreach
-Eliminate Homebound services & all adult & senior programs
-Resume charging late fees
-Elimination of Saturday hours
-Elimination of ALL digital e-resources including Hoopla, Libby, Proquest, & all educational databases
-Any and all improvements to space will be done sparingly and only by donations, no suggestions from our Strategic Plan can be implemented
-We will potentially loose 1/2 of our budget if the IGA funds are eliminated.

Currently Ste. Genevieve County Library is funded through a $.045 cent per $100 property tax. The initial tax levy was established in 1960 at $.010 per $100 and was voluntarily reduced in 2017 to $.045 per $100 with an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) established between the Library, County & Community Center to establish a fund of $200,000 for any needs not covered by the reduced rate.
Prop L will be the first time since 1960 that the library has asked for an INCREASE in Library funding.

The Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) was put in place after the 2017 election where the Library voluntarily rolled back our 1960 property tax rate to $.045 per $100. This rollback allowed an increase in sales taxes so the Community Center could expand with a Bloomsdale location and the popular River Rapids Waterpark (This was all voted on by our community). Luckily, this IGA was put in place between the Community Center, County and Library with the understanding that an account would be set up specifically for Library use if we needed it, not to exceed $200,000 a year. Every December 15th, the Community Center is responsible for filling this account back up to $200,000 if the Library spent any the funds.

Since 2019 we have been using more and more of this money and during the 2024 budget year have estimated using $180,000 of the $200,000. Now with the reduction in sales taxes on the state level affecting our county tremendously, the funds utilized through the IGA are now no longer a guarantee and has hit both the Community Center & other tax entities hard. Sadly because the funds from the IGA come from sales taxes, this has hit us especially hard, even though our main source of funding comes from property taxes.

With the reduction of the sales taxes the future of the IGA is now in question and future funding is not certain. Increasing our tax levy will allow the Library to control its own economic future for the betterment of the county and its residents.

Unfortunately, as a property tax-based entity, the LaFargeHolcim protest means we are also receiving less property tax than we should, the funds are in Escrow and will not be released until the protest is finalized which can take years. Here is a snapshot of the current funds we do not have access to making Prop L even more important.

• 2021-$110,416.45
• 2022-$116,263.14
• 2023-$117,880.87
• Total: $344,560.46 Possible future distribution, plus interest.

These rates are only if the state sees in the counties favor, if the state sees in HolcimLafarge’s favor this amount will be less.

Additionally, the Senior Property Tax Freeze which will also be on this ballot will further reduce our budget when implemented. Without Prop L our financial outlook will only become worse.

At the present time we have the lowest tax based income in the state. If Prop L passes and increases our levy to $.15 per $100 we will still be lower than our surrounding communities but in a better financial situation. For reference this is what surrounding libraries have their rate at with both our current and proposed rates included:

We understand the sentiment especially with so many digital resources today. However, our library has evolved to meet the changing needs of our community. Many people still rely on us for access to books, research materials, technology and community programs. In fact our usage statistics show that since 2017 physical checkouts have increased 58%, yearly visitors have increased 56% and our electronic circulations have increased 181%. If you would like to see more check our Administrative Resources page. Our last 5 annual reports go over each years usage and you can see how your investment will be of value to you, your family and your community. As an example here are a few of those numbers compared from 2017, when the tax rate was rolled back, to 2024 last years final numbers.

We will use our Strategic Plan to guide improvements to the current location based on community feedback and suggestions. If Prop L passes, we’ll develop designs and plans for upgrades, which include better shelving, ADA compliance, a dedicated children’s area with a Story-Time Area, a smaller circulation desk, and an outdoor space.

We are currently working on securing digital renderings of what we anticipate our improved space will look like. We are hoping to unveil these images by February of 2025.

From 1960 to 2016, we were part of the Ozark Regional system, but we parted ways due to various reasons including our inability to provide resources our community wanted. Afterward, we struggled to find our footing, often modeling decisions on Ozark Regional instead of focusing on what Ste. Genevieve County Library could do. Due to underutilized funds over two cycles, we accumulated excess cash, which required either a voluntary tax rollback or state intervention. In response to community demand for a swimming facility, the library agreed to reduce its property tax rate to support the new Bloomsdale Community Center Extension and River Rapids Waterpark through an increased sales tax. The Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) was created as a safety net for the library, but by 2018, we began drawing from it, and our latest budget cycle was budgeted to utilize nearly $180,000 of it, with the IGA future in limbo, we face uncharted territory with no means to recoup the lost funds.

While we deeply appreciate donations, they are not a reliable solution for budget shortfalls. In fact, the last library in the state supported entirely by volunteers and donations had to pass a tax levy in 2022 to avoid closing in 2023. Donations help us fund our “wants,” but relying on them alone to keep our doors open puts us in a tough financial position. If you’d like to support us, please consider donating here https://cfozarks.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=1134 — every bit helps enhance our services!