Royal Oak Voters Will Decide Library Millage Proposal On Aug. 2

ROYAL OAK, MI — Royal Oak voters will decide a millage proposal on Aug. 2 for the Royal Oak Public Library that could generate $3.2 million in its first year.

Royal Oak voters initially approved a 1 mill library millage in November 2003, but due to the Headlee Amendment the city collected less than 1 mill yearly after adjustments.

Now, the library is asking voters to renew the original millage and add a new millage to bring it back up to 1 mill ($1.00 on each $1,000 of taxable value) for the next ten years. If voters approve the levy, the millage will generate an estimated $3.2 million for the library, city officials said.

Although some funds collected from the levy will be diverted to the City of Royal Oak Brownfield Redevelopment Authority, the tax would still help upgrade the library, including:

• Purchasing materials for the print and digital collections.
• Maintenance and upkeep of the building and its systems, including concrete and railing repairs.
• Replacing the roof - sustainable options will be explored.
• Continuing access to databases.
• Connecting with the community outside of the building, including outreach to older residents, continuing our Homebound Services, and connecting with local schools.
• Paying for staffing.

City officials said all levies are subjected to the brownfield tax increment financing, not just the library. In 2021, $17,068 of the library’s millage supported brownfields, and the library’s overall 2021 budget was $3,180,500.

City Manager Paul Brake told C&G Newspapers that turned out to be less than half of 1 percent of the total amount levied for the library last year supported brownfields.

"Homeowners and taxpayers will not be paying toward brownfield redevelopment," Brake said. "Commercial properties that have a brownfield are paying toward the captured portion only to reimburse the brownfield redevelopment that has occurred at that site."