Editorial: District Library Board opts for $14 million project

After more than two hours of discussion Tuesday night, the Belleville Area District Library Board voted unanimously to seek bonds totaling $14 million to build a new library in downtown Belleville. It is expected to be about 31,900 square feet in size. The Sumpter facility is included in the cost.
Needed to pay off this bond would be average millage of .74 for 20 years or .65 mill for 25 years – yet to be determined. This request will be on the November General Election ballot. The building would be constructed for the amount the board felt the public could endorse.
The 2014 request for a new library on the DNR property on the lake was $19 million for 45,000 square feet, including the Sumpter facility. Voters said no.
After the defeat, the library board has cut about one-third of the cost to see if voters would approve something smaller in the city.
Board Treasurer Tanya Stoudemire said the new request would be $5 million less than what the board asked for before, which she felt might be acceptable to voters. Attorney John Day said the board asked a total of about 2 mills last time and the new request would total about 1.4 mills. He included the .7 mill for operating costs the library has until 2022.
The board also voted to retain bond counsel to get started. Board members already are reaching out to the community to get support for the ballot proposal.