Mentor Public Library Levy Passes in Close Vote

"That was a tight one," Mentor Public Library Executive Director Lynn Hawkins said after voters passed the library branch's 2-mill additional levy. "But we're grateful, nonetheless."

Unofficial results show the levy passed by a slim margin of 71 votes -- 6,064 to 5,993 -- or 0.59 percent.

"I would like to thank everyone who supported the library with their vote," Hawkins said. "We've made great strides to offer improved services since the 2008 levy and we're glad we won't have to take strides backward."

The library previously said it will revoke its current 1.1-mill levy that was approved in 2008 if the new one is approved. That means the new levy is basically a replacement for the current levy, though it’s not a replacement levy.

The new levy will produce $3.6 million for the library system, which is $1.7 million more than the current levy, said Library Fiscal Officer Colleen Snyder.

The new levy will>cost property owners an additional $28 annually per $100,000 valuation. The current levy costs property owners $33 per $100,000 valuation.