Town Halls Planned To Discuss New Lenox Library Referendum

NEW LENOX, IL — The New Lenox Library will hold two town halls to discuss the upcoming referendum on the March 17 ballot. Town halls will be held at 7 p.m. Jan. 22 and at 10:30 a.m. Feb. 22 at the library.

According to the library website, the library is looking to increase the operating tax, which would allow the library to purchase materials, offer programs and events, pay staff and more.

The library said the construction bonds approved in 1999 were paid off in December 2019. The library will no longer be collecting taxes for this fund, so the referendum question would redirect the current tax rate which was being used for construction bonds to the tax rate for operations.

"The net effect of this referendum will be a zero tax rate change," according to the library website.

The question the library has approved for the ballot is:

Shall the limiting rate under the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law for the New Lenox Public Library District, Will County, Illinois, be increased by an additional amount equal to 0.0721 percent above the limiting rate for the purpose of general library purposes for levy year 2018 and be equal to 0.2239 percent of the equalized assessed value of the taxable property therein for levy year 2020?

If the referendum is successful, the library said it will be able to expand and improve services, increased the number of hours open, increase Homebound services and maintain the aging library building.

If the referendum fails, the library said it will have to reduce hours, minimize maintenance of the building, decrease services, limit materials and limit technology.

Visit the library website for more information on the referendum.