Twenty years of tax rate

This chart shows 20 years of the Plainfield Library's tax rate. The bonds to building the current library were passed by voters in 1990, creating the sharp increase from 1989 to 1990. As you can see, the rate has declined steadily over time, 53% since the bond issue was passed in 1990. The tax rate requested in 2009 was consistent with the rate approved in the 1990 referendum.

Apologies for the size - Blogger won't let me make it bigger. But if you click on the image, it will open a new window with the chart only in a larger, more legible view.

Question of the Day: Why build the "Taj Mahal"?

The proposed downtown library addition is not an extravagant building. Rather, it is the maximum size possible for the building's site while maintaining adequate parking on site. When researching a design concept, the architects gathered a "kit of parts" by analyzing the common elements among the buildings in the downtown. These included cornice work, recessed doorways with ornate trim, Ashler-pattern stone work, ornate brickwork, and palladian windows.

Each of these elements was included in the design of the downtown library. While the 1941 library building was the only Federalist-style building in the downtown, its character was also retained in the exterior concept selected.

The Site Feasibility Committee's review of the downtown site shows that the 70,000 square foot library proposed for the downtown in his plan cannot be expanded to meet the needs of the community in the future. By including an additional 30,000 sq ft branch library on the north side of the district, both today's need and the need for the next 12-15 years will be met.

Question of the Day: What does the other 44% pay?

This question was fairly long and complex:
"In the Special Edition newsletter, it says that the Village of Plainfield comprises56% of the Library District. In the referendum cost chart, the cost for the average homeowner in the Village of Plainfield is listed. What is the cost to the other 44% of the Library District?"

The proposed $0.3301 tax rate per $100 of valuation is the same for all residents in the Library District. Even those in the ever-confusing double tax, tax code 612 area would pay this rate, though it look a bit different their tax bills. The average home in the Village of Plainfield is used purely as an example, since that is majority of the Library District. Besides, including the average home value for Village of Bolingbrook, Village of Romeoville, unincorporated Wheatland Township and unincorporated Plainfield Township, made the chart too big to fit on the page with the rest of the information :-)

Question of the Day: Is the proposed tax rate in line with what other libraries in our area receive?

The short answer is yes, the proposed tax rate is in line with those of our neighboring districts that have passed referenda recently, like Oswego and Fountaindale Library Districts. Libraries in the suburban Chicago area spend an average of $7.34 per month per resident for service. Last year, the Plainfield Public Library District spent $4.23 per month per resident, Fountaindale spent $6.72 prior to the full increase from their recent referendum.

The long version:
Comparing tax rates can be tricky. Different types of libraries are funded differently. For example, Joliet and Naperville are units of city government. In most cases, city libraries receive utilities at no cost through the city's franchise agreements with the utility companies. Cities have access to other types of funds and bonding authority not available to library districts. Also, certain costs like audits, pension fund contributions, and liability insurance may be paid by through the City's tax rate and fees or may be included in the library portion of the tax rate. Joliet Public Library's Black Road Branch and recent remodeling of the downtown library were built without a bond on the library's tax rate. Tax rates for city libraries in Will County range from $0.7472 for the Park Forest Public Library to $0.1578 for the Joliet Public Library.

Library districts, like the Plainfield Public Library District, are independent taxing bodies, so their tax rates include costs for utilities, pension contributions, liability insurance, and the annual audit required by state law. Library district tax rates in Will County range from $0.4865 for the University Park Public Library District to $0.0983 for the Three Rivers Public Library District (Channahon/Minooka).

Question of the Day: Will the additional $15 per month be a permanent increase?

The ballot question is for a tax rate increase for the Library to a rate of $0.3301 for 2010. The Library will collect that rate for one year before the tax cap will take effect again and begin decreasing that rate. Exactly how much it will decrease is based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and the value of all property in the district. The tax cap limits the total dollar amount that the Library can collect: total dollar amount collected last year plus CPI or 5% whichever is less. In recent years, the CPI averages around 2% while value of the property in the district has increased by a larger percentage each year. Over the last decade, the Library's tax rate decreases and average of 4% per year, more than 50% since the inception of the tax cap in the early 1990's.

Figuring a 4% reduction in rate the second year, the Library tax rate can be estimated to be $0.3169 in 2011, $0.3042 in 2012 and so on.

For more information on how this works check the Illinois Department of Revenue's web site and for more about your tax bill check out Will County's site.

Twice in 84 Years...

One comment that has surfaced about this referendum deals with the issue of higher taxes and how "they keep raising our taxes." "They" are certainly not the Library!

The Plainfield Public Library District has, since its inception in 1925 as the Village Library, passed a tax rate increase exactly once.

Yes, you read that right. Once. The 1990 building bond referendum that will be paid off in 2010, reducing the Library's tax rate, is the only tax rate increase in the Library's history.

How is that possible? It's all about the generosity of three families.

In 1925, Ebanezer & Celeste Nimmons left a $25,000 estate to either the Village of Plainfield or to Plainfield Township for the establishment of a tax supported public library. Later that year, voters approved the creation of the tax-supported Nimmons Village of Plainfield Free Public Library.

In 1940, George and Marietta McClester willed the Village Library their charitable remainder trust to "erect a public library in this City." The McClester-Nimmons Village of Plainfield Free Public Library opened its doors to the public on June 1, 1941. That name can still be seen on the headstone over the former entrance to the library.

In 1954, the Village Library became the sole beneficiary of Fannie Stratton's 160-acre farm. Proceeds from the sale of crops (corn and soybeans) were used to supplement the Library's operating budget. The farm remained a source of operating revenue for the library for 34 years.

In 1988, the Stratton farm was sold at public auction for $1.5 million.

After an unsuccessful referendum for a $3 million in building bond in 1989, the Library Board reduced the 1990 referendum to a $1.9 million building bond, using nearly $1 million of the farm sale proceeds to supplement that amount.

The remainder of the farm sale proceeds, along with developer donations, funded the completion of the Library's lower level in 1996.

It is by the generosity of the Nimmons, McClester, and Stratton families that the Library was able to operate for 84 years with only a single tax rate increase.