Sanilac District Library Funding Sources
Public libraries are not subsidized by the federal or state government. Library collections of audio books, books in print, magazines and movies are not provided by publishers free of charge. Libraries do not receive free or reduced utility services. Libraries are required by law to have paid staff. Public libraries rely on local millages or appropriations from city, county, township or village government for operating revenue.
Sanilac District Library Millage
The State of Michigan requires that a public library receive at least 3/10ths of a mill in local support. The minimum amount required to open the doors to the public. This should not be interpreted as the total needed to provide the services necessary to our community.
An operating millage of 0.625 mills was originally approved by voters in June 1999 and renewed in 2009 and 2018 to provide a stable source of income. Prior to that, SDL was not able to provide quality library services and could not meet the requests of our patrons. Since the millage was approved, every goal has been accomplished. Local dollars are used locally. The District Library Millage supplies approximately 60% of the library's income.
The Headlee Amendment may reduce the amount of tax received. The district millage income fluctuates according to property values and the Headlee Amendment. If Headlee is in effect, the millage rate is permanently reduced. In 2022, the millage rate was reduced to 0.6079.
|
Millage levy history |
Levy |
Headlee Reduction |
Reduction Fraction |
Millage Rate |
|
Levied in 2021- received in 2022 |
118,262.30 |
Yes |
0.9918 |
0.6159 |
|
Levied in 2020 - received in 2021 |
115,590.56 |
Yes |
0.9943 |
0.6210 |
|
2019: 1st levy of 2019-2028 renewed millage |
112,534.40 |
Yes |
0.9994 |
0.6246 |
|
2018: Last levy of 2009-2018 expired millage |
107,481.64 |
Yes |
0.9965 |
0.6205 |
|
2017 |
104,116.36 |
Yes |
0.9987 |
0.6227 |
|
2016 |
102,992.52 |
Yes |
0.9978 |
0.6236 |
|
2015 |
102,237.15 |
No |
1.0000 |
0.6250 |
How much does this really cost taxpayers?
The cost to property owners in SDL's legal service area is 62 and ½ cents for every $1,000 in taxable value of their property. For example, the district library tax for property with a taxable value of $50,000 would be $31.25 a year or $2.61 a month or 60¢ a week or 9¢ per day. ($50,000 x 0.000625 = 31.25)
Divide the cost by the number of people who live in your household. New adult fiction books cost between $25 - $38. The cost to most property owners is about the cost of one book.
Check out What's Your Library Worth developed by ilovelibraries.com to find out how much value you receive every time you borrow an item or visit SDL. The more you visit SDL in person or virtually, the more benefits you receive.
Sanilac County Library Millage
2/10ths of a mill has been levied since 1984 and is distributed per capita to the libraries that serve Sanilac County residents. The purpose of this millage is to supplement declining revenue and offset the rising costs of operating expenses. This millage is renewable every four years and may also be affected by the Headlee Amendment. Sanilac District Library received $44,579.23 in 2022. The millage income varies according to property values, the Headlee Amendment and population size. The county library millage provides approximately 21% of Sanilac District Library’s revenue, which is the equivalent of SDL’s entire book and materials budget.
How is the cost of the County Library Millage Determined?
Multiply the taxable value of your property by 2/10 of a mill (.0002) or multiply the taxable value by .2 and divide the total by 1,000.
Taxable Value |
Cost Per Year |
|
Taxable Value |
Cost Per Year |
$25,000 |
$5 |
|
$45,000 |
$9 |
$30,000 |
$6 |
|
$50,000 |
$10 |
$35,000 |
$7 |
|
$75,000 |
$15 |
$40,000 |
$8 |
|
$100,000 |
$20 |