The Arkansas City Public Library Board of Trustees passed a resolution to to call for an election to create a new library district.
The Ark City Library Question gives residents the option to decide how they want to support the library and what
kinds of services they want to receive from the library. Below you will find more details about the proposed library district and some FAQs.
If you have additional questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out at arkcitypl@acpl.org!
Information About the Proposed District
Arkansas City Public Library cannot levy its own tax.
Taxing authority will transfer from City of Arkansas City to USD 470.
The current tax levied on behalf of library is not considered tax of City of Arkansas City.
The proposed tax levy is not considered a tax of USD 470.
The current ACPL Board is appointed by City of Arkansas City Commissioners.
The proposed Library District Board will be appointed by both the City of Arkansas City Commissioners (City residents) and USD 470 Board of Trustees (Non-City residents within USD 470 territory).
In 2023, property owners within the City limits paid 6 mills for library services. Property owners outside of City limits paid 1.229 mills to South Central Kansas Library System (SCKLS) in Hutchinson.
The ACPL Board passed a resolution to levy a tax of 5 mills within the new proposed library district (USD 470 territory).
Residents within USD 470 territory have the opportunity to vote on the creation of the new library district with its new tax levy.
Existing library taxes will be discontinued.
Under the proposal, the owner of a $100,000 home in Arkansas City would pay about $57 a year to support the library. Owners of a $100,000 home outside of Arkansas City would also pay about $57. In other words, all patrons of USD 470 would pay the same to support the Arkansas City Library.
FAQ
There will be no changes in physical location of the current library facility.
Currently, there are no immediate plans to build a new facility.
Library taxes for City residents will decrease.
Taxes for those residing outside of City limits but within USD 470 territory will increase.
The taxes currently levied by the City, and the taxes currently levied on behalf of SCKLS will be discontinued.
To determine the exact amount you will pay for library services, visit the County Appraiser’s site at https://www.cowleycountyks.gov/departments/Appraiser and find the appraised value of your home. This figure will also be included on recently mailed statements.
Let’s calculate the tax owed on a property with an assessed valuation of $11,500 (about $100k home).
Multiply the assessed valuation by 0.005. This is the annual amount you will pay for library services.
$11,500 x 0.005 = $57.50
Creating a library district is intended to adjust the library’s funding structure, which may allow for additional staffing, enhanced services and programs (such as Early Literacy & Outreach), and improved access to resources for rural residents.
No. The mills levied on behalf of the library by the City of Arkansas City is not considered a City tax. The library’s tax would be discontinued. If the City chooses to increase its mill levy by an additional 6 mills, it may do so, but must comply with the Revenue Neutral Rate (RNR) law, meaning any budget increase would be the responsibility of the City. For the library, the tax levy for City residents would decrease.
The Library is not a taxing authority. It must have another taxing entity levy a tax on its behalf.
If the library district board wishes to increase the mill levy beyond the current approved rate, a petition signed by at least 5% of the qualified voters in the taxing district must be filed within 30 days after the last publication of the resolution.
If a valid petition is filed, the proposed increase cannot take effect unless it is approved by a majority of voters in an election.
Thus, while the library can continue to levy the initially approved amount, any future increase in the mill levy requires voter approval following a petition process.
We provide basic library services free of charge, whether users reside inside or outside of our taxing boundaries.
Basic library services include things like: signing up for a card/account, borrowing physical materials, reference services, public access to computers, WiFi access, use of library facilities, and library programs.
It has been and will continue to be Arkansas City Public Library’s practice to provide free basic library services at no charge to citizens and students whether they reside inside or outside of our taxing boundaries.
The library only charges nominal fees for ancillary services such as printing, copying, and faxing.