COMMUNITY
July 18, 2026
SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE
- DEADLINES Display Ads: Wed., 5:00pm Classifieds: Thurs. 3:30pm
Large backpacks, trapper keepers w/handles, markers, pens, pencils, sticky notes, notebooks, calculators, scissors, folders, binders, pencil cases. No crayons needed!
Reaching over 11,000 homes in Otsego, Plainwell, Martin, Cooper and Alamo areas since 1945
www.communityshoppersguide.net
NEW ITEMS NEEDED:
Drop off ‘til July 27 at Otsego City Hall or Otsego Public Schools Admin Building. email: info@communityshoppersguide.net
Phone (269) 694-9431
Monday-Tuesday 12pm-5pm, Wednesday-Thursday 8am-5pm; Friday 8am-12:30pm
117 N. Farmer St. - P.O. Box 168 - Otsego, MI 49078
Items will be distributed at the Back to School Bash on July 29th, part of the Summer Fun Days event. Hosted by: TOP and Otsego Public Schools
Fax (269) 694-9145
OTSEGO DISTRICT PUBLIC LIBRARY ON AUGUST 4, 2026 BALLOT New Additional Operating Funding Ask for First Time in 30 Years.
The Otsego District Public Library has not asked for additional operating funds in 30 years, as the last operating funding ask was in 1996. In 1996, minimum wage was $3.35/hr and the library operated a 7,000 square foot facility. In 2027, minimum wage will be $15/hr and the library is now operating a 18,400 square foot facility. Overall rising expenses are outpacing current income and the library has begun to use its fund balance to cover routine operating costs, repairs, and upgrades. The library’s goal is to maintain a fund balance equal to 50% of one year’s operating expenses with a minimum target of 35%. However, the 2025 audit showed the fund balance has decreased to 19% of annual operating expenses due to rising costs and necessary repairs to the facility.
MILLAGE MILLAGE INF INFORMATION ORMA ATION • A AUGUST UGUST 4, 2026 BALLOT BALLOT PROPOSAL DEBT DEB TM MILLAGE ILLAGE C COMPLETE OMPLETE LETE IN MA MAY AY Y 2027 - LAST LEVY
• The The library’s library’s construction construction bonds will be paid off off in May May 2027, 2027, and the levy levy for for 0.5 mill will be dropped dropped fr from om tax rroll. oll.
REFINANCED BONDS T TO O SA SAVE AVE VE TAXP T TAXPAYER AXP PAYER DOLLARS • In In 2016, the library library refinanced refinanced its building’s building’s debt debt bonds, SA AVING T TAXP AXP PAYERS O SAVING TAXPAYERS OVER VER 1.5 M MILLION ILLION 2016 - 2026.
S Since ince Last O Operating perating M Millage illage Ask. O Operating perating on 1 Mill Mill v voted oted in 1996.
RISING EXPENSES ARE E OUTP OUTPACING PA ACING OPERA OPERATING RA ATING TING INC INCOME OME
• In In particular, particular, rising costs costs for for building building & equipment equipment maintenance, maintenance, along along with incr increased eased staffing staffing e expenses xpenses due to increasing increasing minimum w wage age rates, rates, are ar e outpacing income. income.
((now no n w at at 0.9502 0.9502 due to hea headlee dlee rrollback) ollback)
IIn n 1996, min wage wage w was as $3.35/hr 7 acility. 7000 000 ft2 ffacility. 2027, min wage IIn n 2027, wage will be $15/hr now now 18,400 ft 2 ffacility. acility.
FUND BALANCE DEPLETION
cover both both • The The library library has had to rely rely heavily heavily on its fund balance balance to cover upgrades maintenance well egular oper operating ating ccosts. osts. upgrades and rroutine outine main tenance as w ell as rregular
INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS: S: OUR F FA FACILITY ACILITY IS 17 YEARS OLD
The library The library has over over $500,000 in kno known wn in infrastructure frastructure rrepair epair & essen essential tial main maintenance tenance needs, incl including uding HV HVAC, VA AC, crumbling e xterior masonry ot main tenance, and ac cessibility impr ovements. exterior masonry,, ligh lighting, ting, parking llot maintenance, accessibility improvements.
12%
Since 2010, Operating Millage Income has increased 12%. Overall Income (including millage and all other sources) ha av ve increased 21%.
Meanwhile, since 2010, Overall Expenses, have increased 67%.
21%
67%
COMPARABLE ARABL COMPARABLE A LIBRARIES Compared to other local libraries, millage funding for the Otsego D District istrict Public Public Library Library lags behind. Millage income is the primary source of library funding. 400% INCREASE IN BUILDING & GROUNDS COSTS C OSTS SINCE 2005 DUE TO TO AGING FACILITY A GING F FA ACILITY OLD)) ((17 17 YEARS OLD EQUIPMENT AND E QUIPMENT
TOTAL T OTA AL M MILLAGE ILLAGE LEVIED
The Otsego District Public Library (ODPL) is on the August 4, 2026 ballot with a new additional operating millage ask of 1.0 mill in perpetuity, which would generate an additional $587,000 in operating revenue the first year levied. Notably, the winter collection on the debt bonds payment will be the last levy for construction of the facility and then the debt millage will drop from the tax roll in 2027. The funds are intended for both regular operations, maintenance of the facility, and capital improvement. The funds collected will be used for maintaining and enhancing library services, including infrastructure repairs and general maintenance of building, technology, equipment, to cover and facilitate staffing minimum wage increases, restoration of the fund balance, facility repair and improvement, and the potential for expanded hours.
2.0 2.0
1.751
1.5 1.0 1.0 0.5 0.5
1.6751
$1,349 $1,349,191 ,191
$1,231,000 $1,231, 000
A Allegan llegan
P Paw aw P Paw aw
1.901 1.901 1.4345
1.54
$1,085,850 $1,085,850
$936,596
P Plainwell lainwell
Richland Richland
$603,426
0.9502 0.9502 $709,487 $7 09,487 ANNU ANNUAL AL INCOME INC OME
2027 marks the last levy and payment on the debt bonds for construction of the current facility. The library is advised annually by a financial management firm how much to levy to make the bond payments, typically 0.5 mills. This will drop off the tax role in 2027 after the final payment, Winter 2026. During the course of payment duration on the bonds, the library refinanced and saved taxpayers over 1.5 million from 2016-2026.
Wednesda e y, July 22 10 AM - 11:30 AM and 5:30 P PM M - 7 PM PM
Building and Grounds expenses since 2005 for the library have increased 400% as the library facility has aged. There are over $1.3 million in known building needs and upgrades over the next 5+ years, with over $500,000 being current urgent needs. The current facility is now 17 years old (built in 2009). Infrastructure needs include: HVAC replacements, roofing repairs, crumbling exterior masonry repairs, lighting, parking lot maintenance, accessibility improvements, and routine upkeep of the building and equipment.
total people were served in 263 Programs 2020-2025 for all ages - infants to adults. The library has seen growth in digital resource use - Nearly 20,000 eBooks and audiobooks (19,794) were borrowed through our online platforms in 2025. Digital checkouts have increased 85% since 2022. The Otsego District Public Library circulates almost 6 items (5.76) per person in the service area, with 14,230 people in our service area, annually. This is equal to average circulation and usage for American libraries. The average taxable ODPL household saved $443 over the last year by borrowing library materials rather than purchasing them.
Otsego District Public Library operating funding is trailing behind other area libraries. ODPL currently operates on 0.9502 mills due to headlee rollback. Allegan operates on 1.751 mills with a 1.3 million dollar budget, Paw Paw operates on 1.6751 mills with a 1.2 million dollar budget, and Plainwell operates on 1.4345 mills with a $1,085,850 budget. ODPL operated on $709,487 (including millage and all other income sources) in 2025 with 3 full time staff and 16 part time staff. Library usage has remained high. In 2025, 62,177 people visited ODPL, equivalent to the library serving an average of 24 visitors per hour open. The Otsego District Public Library has seen a 70% increase in library visitors from 2021 to 2025. Study rooms were booked 503 times in the course of 2025. Visitors used the library’s internet and/or wifi 29,950 times in 2025 alone. Programs at ODPL are well attended: 163,027
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Otsego O tsego
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Community Forums: Otsego District Public Library
Join us for coffee at an upcoming Community Forum at the library, where Library Director An Assistant Director Leesa sa will be available for an open Q & A session. This is a great opportunity to learn updates and facts about the current staatte of the library, ask share feedback, and connect with others in the community. Whether you’re curious about p resources, or future plans, w we’d love to hear from you. All are welcome!
The official ballot language will read as follows:
Otsego District Public Library Library Millage Proposal
Shall the Otsego District Public Library, Counties of Allegan and Kalamazoo, Michigan, be authorized to levy annually a new additional millage in an amount not to exceed 1.0 mill ($1.00 per each $1,000 of taxable value) against all taxable property within the Otsego District Public Library district in perpetuity beginning with the 2026 levy, for the purpose of providing funds for all district library purposes authorized by law? The estimate of the revenue the Otsego District Public Library will collect if the millage is approved and levied by the Library in the first year (2026) is approximately $587,000.
Yes ❏ No ❏
A Community Forums/Open Q&A will be held on July 22, from 10:00AM-11:30AM and 5:30pm-7:00PM. Further information is also available at the Otsego District Public Library.
Any questions should be directed to:
Library Director Andrea Estelle at the library 401 Dix Street, Otsego • (269) 694-9690.