The Bremen Town Council members were set to consider a resolution Monday in support of the Bremen Public Library renovation and expansion project, but took time to take comments from three Marshall County Council members concerning the financing behind the project.
Marshall County Council President Tim Harman said that the bond information will be presented to the county council in March. Since the county council approves the library’s budget each year, it will be up to them to approve the request to issue bonds to help pay for the $3.2 million project.
Harman commented that he plans to speak to Library Director Chris Scandling and Baker Tilly partner Todd Samuelson about the financing for the project, but feels that the proposed tax increase would add to the burden of additional taxes on German Township residents.
Harman stated, “You had a Cumulative Capital Development Fund increase through the county, a Cumulative Bridge Fund increase through the county, the school [referendum], and the Kankakee River and Yellow River Basin Commission’s tax increase on property.”
The tax rate would increase four cents per $100 of assessed valuation, or about $23.00 for 20 years for those who live in town, as it states on the library’s website.
County Council members Jesse Bohannon and Heath Thornton were also in attendance and agreed with Harman that the library may be able to put more money toward the project after looking at the library’s reserve funds on the state’s Gateway website. They also suggested the possibility of using TIF funds by talking to the Bremen Redevelopment Commission, but Bremen Director of Operations Trend Weldy was not sure if the library would fall within a TIF District for those funds to be properly appropriated.
Harman added that he does not want to raise taxes if there is a way to avoid it.
Bremen Town Councilman Rick Graverson pointed out statistics provided by Scandling during their earlier meeting this month. He referenced attendance for programs and activities which has doubled in the past 10 years and it is necessary to expand space to meet the needs of the library’s patrons.
While Harman, Bohannon and Thornton are not necessarily opposed to most of the proposed updates needed, Bremen Town Council member Michael Leman stressed that the library needs to be updated to keep up with modern demands and to accommodate the citizens of Bremen.
“If we can’t do the project or can’t fund it that way then we still want to make sure the library gets remodeled or renovated in some fashion because it hasn’t had anything touched since 1992,” stated Leman. “It’s packed everyday and it does get used. I think that we can’t take that option away from the taxpayers and the town people that live here. I’d welcome sitting down at the table and trying to hash it out.”
The Bremen Town Council, Marshall County Council members, Bremen Library Board members and financial experts may come to the table to talk more about financing before the bond information is presented to the Marshall County Council in March for consideration.
After the hour-long conversation, the Bremen Town Council members unanimously approved a resolution that supports the Bremen Public Library’s proposed project.
The entire conversation can be heard Sunday, February 28 during the Maximum Impact program at noon on MAX 98.3 FM.
