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Greenwood Public Library warns of funding 'cliff,' says hiring freeze in effect
Summary
Greenwood Public Library leaders told Johnson County commissioners on June 23 that changes to local income tax rules will cut library revenue over the next three years, prompting a hiring freeze and service adjustments despite rising usage.
Tamara Russell, a Greenwood Public Library trustee, and Cheryl Doss, the library's executive director, told the Johnson County Board of Commissioners on June 23 that the library is preparing for a multi-year drop in revenue tied to changes in local income tax law and has imposed a hiring freeze to preserve reserves.
Russell introduced the update, saying she has served on the library's board since 2018. Doss said the library finished a remodel and has seen “door counts are through the roof,” circulation up and library card issuance “up 64%.” She warned that the library expects to lose about $80,000 to $90,000 per year in property-tax revenue each year over the next three years and that the change represents a permanent downward shift in revenue.
“There's no requirement in the new law for you to give us anything,” Doss said, describing how a decline in property-tax revenue combined with the portion of funding that comes from local income tax could produce a steep drop if taxing units do not act. “Forty percent of our revenue is currently local income tax. That's a huge chunk.”
The presentation explained the library is operating a hiring freeze and cross-training staff to maintain services. Doss said the library has 39 employees, including pages, and that one recent vacancy will not be filled. She said the library has savings and has worked to prepare for revenue fluctuations but that deeper reductions will arrive in 2027–28 as the income-tax changes take effect.
Commissioners asked logistics questions: whether positions lost this year would be replaced and whether cities would share any new local income tax revenue with the library. Doss said a recent vacancy “is not being replaced” and that, from her understanding, the local option income-tax revenue is for the city and she had not seen indications it would be passed along to the library.
Doss said she will leave the library July 18 after 21 years in library work and 14 years as Greenwood's director; the library board will consider a succession plan at its next executive meeting.
No formal action was taken by the board during the presentation; commissioners thanked the presenters and discussed the issue during routine business.
