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The Basalt Regional Library proudly offers a wide range of in-person and online/digital books, services, programs, resources, and community meeting/work space to residents across the Roaring Fork Valley. We’re committed to maintaining a safe, clean, community-centered library and we’re planning ahead to ensure we protect it for future generations.
Serving 12,000+ residents in the Roaring Fork Valley, the library is one of the most visited and valued community resources.
Annual Services Provided:
The library is currently funded with a 2.61 mill levy for operations and capital improvements, and a 1.08 mill levy that generates a maximum of $930,000 per year to pay off the library’s bond debt. The 1.08 bond mill levy will expire at the end of 2025.
We do not receive any additional regular funding from the State or Eagle and Pitkin Counties. The entire library, including librarians, programs and building maintenance, is funded through our local mill levy revenue.
Yes. To keep the library clean, well-maintained, and continue services without increasing the tax rate, the Basalt Regional Library District (BRLD) Board of Trustees voted to place a 1.08 mill levy extension measure on the ballot for the November 4, 2025 election.
This ballot measure would NOT raise the tax rate. In 2006, local voters approved a ballot measure to fund the construction of the Basalt Regional Library. The library district will pay off the bond debt this year, a year ahead of schedule, and the associated mill levy will expire in 2025. The Basalt Library is asking voters to consider extending this mill levy for operations.
The 1.08 mill levy extension would continue the existing homeowner cost of approximately $67 annually per $1 million of home value to fund our library services.
Yes, extended funding would allow for the continuation and expansion of afterschool homework assistance and summer reading programs for school-age children, a dedicated children’s area for story time and other programs, art and literacy programs for all ages, programs for older adults, job training and resources, and space for recreational programs, workshops/classes, public meetings and community gatherings, and more.
The Basalt Regional Library District has a history of being a responsible steward of taxpayer funding, balancing the cost of taxes on constituents and ensuring adequate resources to maintain library services.
This measure would keep the overall tax rate at 3.69 mills, slightly below 2025 rates. This is a significantly lower mill rate than in recent years (e.g., 5.94 mills in 2021). Two key factors for this reduced rate:
The Basalt Regional Library District is fully transparent with our financials and budget and encourage you to read through our recent budget letters on our website: basaltlibrary.org/board
The library has not increased its mill levy for operations since 2006, with the exception of a seven-year supplemental operational mill levy that expired in 2023.
We value fully funding the library that our community desires and needs, but without unnecessarily burdening taxpayers by increasing our reserves beyond what is necessary to cover emergencies or economic downturns. By policy, we are required to keep a minimum of 50% of the previous year’s expenses in operating reserves. And by practice, we also keep a minimum of $500,000 in capital reserves. We are committed to maintaining these reserves without building them too big, which would be a burden on taxpayers.
With property values continuing to grow, and with this extension of our mill levy, our revenues will be sufficient such that in 2026 we may not need to collect the full mill to which we are entitled.
This measure would establish 1.08 mills as a cap on future revenue. The library board can always opt to collect less in any given year, as we are this year, but never any more.
The property tax bill for seniors who apply for the Homestead Exemption will be reduced by 50% on the first $200,000 of home value. Learn more here: dpt.colorado.gov/property-tax-exemption-for-senior-citizens-in-colorado
No. By law, revenue from the measure could not be taken by the State or either County. All funding must be used for the Basalt Regional Library District.
Yes, twice. In 2006, local voters approved a ballot measure to fund construction of the Basalt Regional Library. The library district is set to pay off the bond this year, a year ahead of schedule, and the associated mill levy will expire in 2025. This ballot measure would extend that mill levy for ongoing library operations and maintenance.
In 2016, local voters also passed a Supplemental Funding Measure to support library operations and maintenance. That measure and funding expired at the end of 2023 and was not submitted to voters for renewal or extension.
Basalt Library is a self-governing Special District with an appointed Board of Trustees, serving the Town of Basalt and nearby communities in Eagle and Pitkin Counties.
The mill levy ballot measure is set for a November 4, 2025 all-mail ballot election.
To pass, the ballot measure must be approved by a simple majority of voters who cast votes on the measure (50% plus one).
Ballot Issue [__]
WITHOUT INCREASING THE TAX RATE, SHALL THE BASALT REGIONAL LIBRARY DISTRICT PROPERTY TAXES BE EXTENDED TO RETAIN THE EXPIRING 2006 VOTER APPROVAL AT THE CURRENTLY IMPOSED RATE OF 1.08 MILLS TO:
(i) PROPERLY FUND THE ONGOING MAINTENANCE OF LIBRARY FACILITIES;
(ii) PROVIDE FUNDING NECESSARY TO RETAIN STAFF AND MAINTAIN/EXPAND OPERATING HOURS AT THE LIBRARY;
(iii) PROPERLY FUND COMMUNITY ACCESS TO BOOKS, INTERNET, INFORMATION AND PROGRAMS;
(iv) IMPROVE JOB SEARCH AND HOMEWORK SUPPORT; AND
(v) SUPPORT OTHER ESSENTIAL LIBRARY SERVICES AND PROGRAMS
THROUGH A PERMANENT PROPERTY TAX PRODUCING $782,000 IN TAX REVENUES IN CALENDAR YEAR 2025 AND WHATEVER IS GENERATED EACH YEAR THEREAFTER FROM THE EXTENDED RATE OF 1.08 MILLS FOR DEPOSIT INTO THE DISTRICT’S GENERAL FUND, TO CONSTITUTE A VOTER-APPROVED REVENUE CHANGE UNDER ARTICLE X, SECTION 20 OF THE STATE CONSTITUTION?
_____ YES/FOR _____ NO/AGAINST
The library will not be able to build our capital reserves as quickly as needed to anticipate future maintenance and repairs to the library building and property. This means that we may need to defer necessary maintenance until there are funds in reserve to cover those repairs.
In addition, the biggest immediate impact of the ballot measure not passing is that many staff will continue to be paid below the living wage for our area. This means that staff turnover will continue to be high.
The library will not be able to explore expanding our open hours, and as costs continue to rise, we may need to reduce our open hours.
The library may have to cut our program and collection development budgets. This means fewer resources for our community.
The library serves people of all ages and in all walks of life, providing access to the community. To sustain its continued services, the library requires long-term funding.
The library could reduce its staff, services, resources, and hours and do without this funding.
As the Basalt Regional Library District plans for the future and explores ways to support staff salaries, ongoing building maintenance, and the library collection, services, and programs, we encourage your questions. For more information about the mill levy ballot measure, please contact Amy Shipley at ashipley@basaltlibrary.org
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