Garfield County voters will decide this fall whether to continue a property tax levy that helps fund operations at the county’s six public libraries.

The Garfield County commissioners on Monday approved placing the Garfield County Public Library District’s ballot issue on the Nov. 3 general election ballot. The measure asks voters to extend 1 mill of the district’s existing property tax levy, which is scheduled to expire in 2027.

Commissioners approved placing the measure on the ballot 2-0. Commissioner Mike Samson was excused from the meeting.

Library District Board President Adrian Rippy-Sheehy said the proposal would not increase the current tax rate.

“It’s not raising any taxes, it’s an extension of the mill levy,” Rippy-Sheehy said.

The library district receives revenue from one-quarter of Garfield County’s 1-cent sales tax and a 2.5-mill property tax levy made up of two voter-approved mill levies, according to Garfield County. One mill of that property tax rate was approved by voters in 2006 and is set to expire in 2027.

If voters approve the measure, the district would continue collecting revenue from that 1 mill beginning in 2028. The extension would not include a sunset provision.

Revenue from the levy can be used for repairs and maintenance, retaining staff, providing books, technology and other materials, supporting programs for seniors and children, and partnering with nonprofits addressing food insecurity, mental health, domestic violence and other community needs.

“Long-term funding is needed to keep our local libraries in good repair, safe, clean and accessible,” Rippy-Sheehy said.

According to information the district presented Monday, the existing 1-mill levy costs the owner of a home with Garfield County’s median assessed value about $38 per year.

“If this doesn’t pass, we could reduce our staff, we could reduce services, we could reduce resources, and that would save somebody $38 a year,” Rippy-Sheehy said.

The Library District Board previously approved a resolution calling for the election. Five trustees were present for the vote, while the two absent trustees submitted letters supporting the measure.

“It was unanimously passed by all five of the library trustees present, and the two who were absent submitted letters of support,” Rippy-Sheehy said.

The district reported more than 440,000 library visits annually, roughly 500,000 physical and digital books checked out, about 45,000 visits to library programs and approximately 17,000 uses of meeting and study rooms.

Rippy-Sheehy also cited a countywide voter survey conducted earlier this year in which about 60% of respondents reported visiting a Garfield County library at least once a month. She said the district received an 80% approval rating in the survey.

County Attorney Tari Williams told commissioners that placing the measure on the ballot was largely procedural because state law requires the county to do so once the library district formally requests it.

“The language in the statute is ‘shall place it on the ballot upon request,'” Williams said.

With the commissioners’ approval, the question now goes to Garfield County voters on Nov. 3.