By Paul Thompson
Northeast News

The North-East branch of the Kansas City Public Library system would be a primary benefactor of a proposed eight-cent property tax levy increase, which is set to go before Missouri voters on November 6, 2018.

Kansas City and Jackson County voters are being asked to support the first property tax levy increase in 22 years when they cast their general election ballots this November. The proposed levy increase would raise approximately $2.8 million annually and help the library expand services and hours, increase access, sustain its collections and upgrade its facilities.

The Library’s annual budget currently sits at approximately $20 million, with about 90% of those funds derived from the property tax levy. A levy rate of 50 cents per $100 of assessed valuation was approved by voters in 1996, though the rate was lowered last year to 46.76 cents per $100 in assessed valuation due to Missouri’s Hancock Amendment – statewide legislation which imposes taxing limits on the personal income of Missourians.

According to Kansas City Public Library Executive Director Crosby Kemper III, the North-East branch would be pegged for a roughly $1.75 million renovation if the property tax levy increase is approved. Those upgrades could include new shelving, parking lot and bathroom improvements, new study rooms and upgraded technology including new computers, electronic whiteboards and larger screens in study rooms.

“We can’t raise enough money to do the North-East Library, the Waldo Library, and other things that we need to do. North-East is first on the list,” Kemper said. “Without the levy increase, we would not be able to do the complete renovation of the North-East Library.”

Kemper suggested that a dynamic small-business community and the large immigrant population in the Northeast area make educational services at the North-East branch a priority.

“The library offers transformative services to a lot of people, particularly poor folks from a more challenged educational background,” Kemper said. “We provide a lot of services that are primarily dedicated to those people.”

Kemper noted that initial meetings with architects have already been conducted. At this point, the hope is that renovations at the North-East branch could be completed before the end of 2019, if voters approve the proposed levy increase.

“We intend to do some community meetings in the branch and around the branch during September and October to lock down what we think we ought to be doing with the renovations,” Kemper said. “If the levy increase passes, we will then give the order to the architects to prepare detailed plans.”

To Kemper, it’s important to focus budgetary expenditures in places like the Northeast, which he suggested are often overlooked when public projects are considered.

“There are people on the east side, including the Northeast, who believe that they don’t get the services that their tax dollars pay for. I believe they’re right, by the way,” Kemper said. “In talking to those folks, I believe that we’ve got their support. I don’t think there’s any organized opposition.”

More generally, Kemper said that a vote for the levy increase is a vote of confidence that the Kansas City Public Library system expends public money wisely.

“The money we get, we spend on the people who need it. We target our money particularly to the most challenged people in the community,” Kemper said. “We are the helping hand. I think people get that the library spends the money responsibly and efficiently.”