Town of Merton

Town Hall Library Referendum

Expansion Features

Building Plans

Expansion Budget

Expansion Funding

The Electoral Meeting

Cost to Taxpayers

The Construction Schedule

How can I help?

Referendum Committee Members

Absentee Ballot

Contact us if you have questions:

libraryreferendum@gmail.com

The Town Hall Library in the town of Merton has outgrown itself.   It is 3680 square feet, the same size it has been since 1983, yet the population has grown by over 37 percent since then.  Over 25 percent of the library collection is currently stored at the nearby North Lake School, requiring frequent trips by staff members to retrieve requested books.   As library shelving has increased, less space remains for seating, processing of new materials, additional computer stations, program area for children, and general ease of movement.

The Library also is not handicapped-accessible—aisles are too narrow, there is no elevator to the lower or upper levels, and the bathrooms are too small for wheelchairs.

EXPANSION FEATURES

The expansion will provide an additional 12,350 square feet of space.  About 3,000 square feet of this will remain unfinished for future growth, resulting in total developed space in the current plan of 13,030 square feet. 

The existing historical Town Hall building (circa 1890 with a 1983 addition) will be redecorated but structurally unchanged.  The main floor of the historical building will become a cozy reading room.  An addition will be constructed to the rear (south) of the existing building, enlarging the children’s area in the basement and the shelving area on the main floor.  An elevator will allow access to all levels. 

On the now vacant lot to the east of the existing building, additional space will be constructed.  This will include a community meeting room, restrooms, comfortable seating for reading and study, basement storage and office/staff space, as well as greatly increased space for books, displays, and local history materials.

The old and new sections will be served on the main floor by a central circulation desk.  Doorways to the Library will be on both the Hwy. VV side and on the south side, accessible from the Merton Town Hall parking lot.

THE BUILDING PLANS

View the floor plans:

Lower Level - Children's Area

First Floor - Seating Areas, Adult Fiction, Adult Non-Fiction, DVDs and Music

Second Floor - Adult Fiction, Seating Areas

EXPANSION BUDGET

The total expansion budget is $2.5 million.  The cost of the construction is projected to be $1.9 million.  In addition, about $350,000 is being budgeted for internal furnishings.  Additional costs already incurred include $175,000 to purchase the adjoining lot to the east to provide room for the expansion, and expenses for conducting a private fundraising campaign.

CONSTRUCTION FUNDING

A fundraising campaign has been ongoing since 2005, with the goal to raise half of the needed funds privately.  To date (late 2007)

$1.25 million has been raised, and fundraising efforts are continuing.  A referendum requesting approval of up to $1.4 million ($1.25 million for construction plus a contingency fund)  will be presented to the electorate at the February 19, 2008 primary election. 

THE ELECTORAL MEETING

On Tuesday, February 26, one week after the advisory referendum, a special town meeting will be held at which electors (Town of Merton voters) will vote on whether to direct the Town Board to construct the library addition. 

At a subsequent meeting of the Town Board, the Supervisors will decide whether to approve funding of the library expansion, based on the outcomes of the advisory referendum and special town meeting votes.  

COST TO TAXPAYERS

Since the expansion is also being funded by $1.25 million in private donations, the cost to the taxpayer is greatly reduced.   Instead of needing to borrow $2.5 million, taxpayers are being asked to approve borrowing $1.4 million, slightly more than half the total construction cost.  In other words, every $1.40 in tax dollars spent is being supplemented and almost doubled by $1.25 in private donations.

It is important to note that of the $1.25 million in private donations raised thus far, over $400,000 is contingent on securing the remaining funds needed for the $2.5 million construction estimate and breaking ground on the project.  This fact makes approval of the Town’s borrowing essential.

Borrowing the needed $1.4 million for 10 years at 5 percent interest will result in a cost per $1,000 of assessed  valuation of  $0.1364.  This means that the owner of a home assessed at $100,000 would have $13.64 added to the annual property tax bill for ten years.  The owner of a home assessed at $300,000 would have $40.92, or $3.41 a month  added to the annual property tax bill for ten years.

To calculate the cost of the library expansion on your tax bill, just enter the assessed property value in the space below and click on Calculate.