HARTFORD, Ky. — As most Ohio Countians receive their property tax bills in the next few days, the Ohio County Public Library wanted to share with its patrons just how it uses the tax revenue it collects.
Over the last few years, there has been grumbling from members of the Ohio County Fiscal Court about how much the library collects in tax revenue. More than even the county collects.
Such grumbling occurred at the Sept. 8 fiscal court meeting. Ohio County Judge-Executive David Johnston made sure to point out the fiscal court didn’t approve of the library’s 2020 property tax rate.
The chairperson of the Ohio County Public Library Board, John Cashion, was there to answer any questions the fiscal court might have about the library’s 2020 property tax rate. Cashion also explained why the rate was higher than the county’s tax rate.
While Johnston complained about the county operating on less property tax revenue than brought in by the library, Cashion pointed out the county had other sources of revenue, whereas the public library had only tax revenue. In fact, the county budget is around $14 million, while the public library operates under a budget of around $900,000, of which about 90 percent is in the form of property tax revenue.
First District Magistrate Sam Small, whose district includes the public library, asked Cashion and the board to better educate Ohio County on whatever the library provides for the tax revenue collected.
Below is just a summary of what the public library offers Ohio Countians.
Did you know, from July 1, 2019 – June 30, 2020
Ohio County Public Library loaned:
- 71,652 adult, teen and children’s books with a value of $1,535,502.36
- 17,485 DVDs and Blu-Rays with a value of $331,865.30
- 3,797 books on CD with a value of $266,017.82
- 21,614 e-books with a value of $815,928.50.
Ohio County Public Library served:
- 3,611 children, 986 adults and 2,003 families in 322 in-person programs
- 22,992 families in 21 Facebook programs
- 10,138 registered library users
- 60,917 patrons visiting the library.
Ohio County Public Library visited:
- 264 families in 984 miles with its homebound service
- 660 families in 4,032 miles with its Bookmobile service.
Ohio County Public Library provided:
- 31,361 attendees with 2,148 meeting rooms
- 3,327 reference question answers
- 7,764 database uses
- 9,519 people with WiFi
- 4,987 people with library computers.
The public library is more than just a “book renter.” There is much more to offer Ohio County residents.
In fact, tonight, Oct. 2, the public library is hosting something perfect for those interested in the paranormal, In Times of High Strangeness with Dustin Pari will be online at 5:30 p.m. on Zoom. Creatures, spirits and legends all come out to play in this amazing and unique presentation. To join the presentation, and space could be limited, here’s the link https://buff.ly/2Q3pzAN
Be sure to check out the all the library has to offer at 413 Main St. in Hartford. Visit the library online at ohiocountypuliclibrary.org or like them on Facebook or follow them on Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.