By TOM GERROW
BG Independent News
There is a $1.2 million question on the ballot this Nov. 3.
The Wood County District Public Library is asking voters to renew the 0.8 mill library levy request for another six years in this year’s election. The levy would provide $1,212,284 annually to help fund the library.
Voters approved the original levy in 2010, and have renewed it twice so far, in 2014 and 2020. Voter support for the renewals in 2014 and 2020 was strong, with 70% and 73% of voters approving, respectively.
As a practical matter, the 16-year-old levy is now less than the 0.8 mill originally approved by voters. As a simple levy renewal, the levy request is designed to bring in a specific level of funding. So, as property values have risen the current effective millage, as determined by the Wood County Auditor, has gone down to 0.505239 for residential/agricultural and 0.696486 for commercial/industrial. For a residential property, that amounts to $18 per $100,000 of the county auditor’s market value.
The WCDPL, which counted on the levy for about 38% of the library’s total tax revenues in 2025, is operating in a more financially uncertain environment than in recent years. Ohio’s Public Library Fund (PLF), which makes up the rest of the library’s taxpayer funding, has been converted from a percentage of revenue collected by the state to a line item in the state budget. Ohio’s fall election will bring in a new administration and a new general assembly, and their budget priorities could affect future funding for the PLF.
Michael Penrod, the library’s director, noted that it was tough financial times that originally led the WCDPL to turn to voters for support in 2010.
“The board went for its first levy after the Great Recession, when state funding dropped 34%,” Penrod said. “We didn’t know if it would continue, so the board put on a 0.8 mill levy. And then when that revenue started to come in, that allowed us to secure the position of the library. So, it’s provided stability.”
State funding through the PLF never recovered to its pre-recession levels. In 2007, the PLF distributed $458 million (approximately $744 million in 2026 dollars). In 2026, the PLF will distribute about $480 million.
Penrod said that the levy has allowed the library to maintain and even expand services to better serve local residents.
“One example is we hired a second bookmobile librarian,” Penrod said. “With another bookmobile librarian, we have been able to have the bookmobile out on the road more, delivering service. So [the levy] is definitely a key part of our ability to deliver service.”
Local demand for library services continues to increase. Since 2022, the WCDPL has seen more library visitors (+27%), more books borrowed (+19%), and more participation in library programs and events (+82%). In 2025, the library offered 1,140 programs and events with 36,667 people participating.
“We work hard to be a part of the community, and we hope that the community recognizes that,” said Ken Frisch, president of the library board of trustees. “And I think they do. I think that’s the reason that they continue to support the levy – they know the importance of those resources.”
Frisch said that being a good steward of taxpayer-provided funds has been the focus of the library’s board of trustees
“We will continue to be good stewards,” Frisch said. “We try to be extremely transparent about what we’re doing. Personally, I think it’s a great investment in the community.”
