Hussey-Mayfield Memorial Public Library Expands to Better Serve Its Communities
September 2020
Many of you may have seen the Hussey-Mayfield Memorial Public Library’s (HMMPL) announcement on its plans to expand its footprint and provide permanent library services to all Worth Township residents.
The Worth Township Advisory Board accepted HMMPL’s service proposal on July 21 and took a final vote on the full resolution on Aug. 10. The plan, which took effect Wednesday, Aug. 12, calls for HMMPL to provide permanent library services to all township residents and build a branch in the area. HMMPL is also working with the Zionsville mayor and town council to extend services to residents of Perry Township.
Defined by Townships, not Town or County Lines
In Boone County, library service areas are defined by townships, not town or county lines. Previously, HMMPL served only Eagle and Union townships. According to HMMPL, that left a large number of residents in both Zionsville and Whitestown without public library service unless they paid a fee to use the library, as directed by state statute. For several years, township trustees have been able to sign contracts with libraries that allow for a discounted fee. Some even choose to cover a portion or all of the fee for their residents.
HMMPL has been investigating the expansion of their service area into the unserved townships of Worth and Perry for some time. Each year, the library received more and more requests for membership from residents outside of Eagle and Union townships.
Focus groups organized by HMMPL and community conversations in 2019 revealed a strong need and desire by residents for library services in the western portion of the community. Shortly after, a determination was made that building a physical branch would be prudent in providing Worth Township residents with the library services they need.
“One of our guiding principles is to remove barriers and find ways to be a role model for growth and expansion in our community,” HMMPL Executive Director Sarah Moore expressed. “We’re not just building a library; we’re expanding library services for this community that has not had home library services before. This is a generations-long commitment that is being made, and I’m so excited to be a part of that.”
How Will Funding the Expansion Impact Homeowners?
With the addition of a new HMMPL branch in Worth Township, Worth Township property owners will see a tax rate increase of $0.0554 to $0.0686 per $100 of adjusted assessed value beginning in 2022. The final rate will be determined by the size of the library branch selected. The HMMPL proposal includes three sizes ranging from 15,000 to 30,000 square feet. The mid-range rate of $0.0624 would translate into a $61.01* annual library tax for those with a $200,000 home.
Zionsville property owners in Eagle and Union townships will see a temporary tax increase from $0.0211 up to $0.0343 per $100 of adjusted assessed value. For example, at the mid-range rate of $0.0281, a homeowner with a $200,000 home may see a $27.47* increase in their property taxes for one year. This is the amount of time it will take to pay off the library’s current bond. After 2023, property owners will see the increase to their library tax rate drop to $0.0052–$0.0184.
Homeowners who have already met their tax cap will not see an increase in their property taxes. If the proposal to expand services into Perry Township is also approved, these tax rates will decrease even further. Tax changes will not go into effect until closer to the opening of the new branch, which is expected to be in the early part of 2022.
Worth Township residents may register for a library card at the library’s main location, 250 North 5th Street, Zionsville or online at http://bit.ly/HMMPLcard.
Footnote: *All included tax examples assume the following mortgage deductions have been applied: homestead deduction, supplemental homestead deduction and mortgage deduction. The annual library tax is then calculated based on the resulting net assessed home value. For more information, review HMMPL’s full Worth Township proposal at https://zionsvillelibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Full-Proposal-2020-Worth.pdf.
Writer:
Janelle Morrison
Photography:
Submitted