The facade of the Peter White Public Library in Marquette is seen. (Journal file photo)

MARQUETTE — Increased funding for Peter White Public Library operations will go before voters in Chocolay Township and Marquette.

Leaders in each municipality approved language requesting a Headlee Amendment override for the Nov. 6 ballot during their respective meetings on Monday.

The Marquette City Commission unanimously approved a ballot request to levy additional millage not to exceed .1315 mill — which is roughly 13.2 cents for every $1,000 of taxable value — for a period of five years. The millage, if approved by voters, would garner about $95,000 in additional funding for the library in the first year, according to the ballot proposal. It would roll the currently collected millage rate of 1.3685 mill to the contracted millage rate of 1.5 mills.

The Chocolay Township Board also unanimously approved a measure that would add an amount not to exceed .2716 mill for three years, which is equal to about 27.2 cents on each $1,000 of taxable value. If approved by voters, the millage would roll the currently collected millage rate of .7284 mill to the contracted rate of 1 mill.

The Sands Township Board will decide at its regular board meeting tonight whether to request its own Headlee override, bumping the .8288 mill currently collected up to 1 mill.

Since the passage of the Headlee Amendment in 1978, units of government are required to annually calculate a Headlee rollback factor, which is then added to rollbacks from prior years, resulting in a cumulative “millage reduction fraction.”

The fraction is then applied to the originally authorized millage, which results in the actual millage local governments are able to levy.

In an email Monday, Peter White Public Library Director Andrea Ingmire called the ballot initiatives “a turning point for the library.”

The three Headlee override requests, along with a Marquette Township millage renewal of .9061 mill and a Powell Township new services ballot proposal for 1 mill, if successful, would provide new annual revenue estimated at $223,000. The additional money, she said, would fill anticipated financial shortfalls, help to stabilize library funding and prevent further cuts to the library’s operating budget.

“Since 2015 the library has been in an uphill battle with the (Michigan) Tax Tribunal settlement impacts,” Ingmire said. “The library is currently operating at a funding level that is $85,000 less than it should be due to the settlements in our service areas. We are preparing for the closing of We Energies Presque Isle (Power) Plant as well as the (UP Health System-Marquette) Hospital move to a brownfield site. Both of these changes will impact the library’s funding further. We are projecting an additional $140,000 in annual loss to revenue.”

Digital resources utilized by patrons from remote areas provide some of the library’s most important services, Ingmire said, which could be expanded if the millage proposals are successful.

“We have several databases and digital resources that can be used from anywhere internet access is available,” Ingmire said. “We are also investigating various streaming video services. In addition, we are looking for ways we can bring the library to the townships. Sands Township is working with us to develop a book pickup program at the township hall. We hope to have that ready before the snow flies. If we are able to restore funding to the 2015 level (all millages in November pass) then we will be offering programs remotely as well as offering live stream of library programs in-house.”

The millage requests, Ingmire said, would be earmarked for library operations, which should be considered separately from the $4.2 million capital improvement bond approved by city of Marquette voters on Aug. 8, 2017.

“The capital improvement bond does not supplement our operating fund,” she said. “We have many energy savings changes happening in the building which will help the operating fund. But, I do think it is confusing to people who see all of this work going on and assume that the library no longer has financial issues. That is far from the case. Unfortunately, we have some pretty big hurdles ahead of us in the next two years with the closing of the Presque Isle plant and the hospital move.”