Middletown council adopts Midpoint Librarys 2026 tax budget after hearing from library officials
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Summary
Midpoint Library officials presented the librarys 2026 budget at a statutorily required public hearing; city council voted to receive, file and adopt the tax budget, which estimates $12,488,700 in general fund revenue and $12,031,718 in expenditures for 2026.
Midpoint Library fiscal staff presented the library systems 2026 tax budget at a public hearing June 17 and Middletown City Council voted to receive, file and adopt the document.
The librarys fiscal officer, Emily Foote, told council the Midpoint Librarys 2026 general fund revenues are estimated at $12,488,700 and expenditures at $12,031,718. "By way of review, since you are the taxing authority for the Midpoint Library, I'm here bringing forth the 2026 budget for your review, which will then be sent to the Butler County auditor for approval," Foote said during the hearing.
Travis Belt, a Midpoint Library representative who highlighted summer programming and services during the hearing, noted systemwide activities and local services at the Middletown branch, including a USDA summer lunch site and a new makerspace called Innovation Point.
Council President or the meeting moderator explained that the public hearing was held because "each year by state statute the Midpoint library must hold a public hearing for their tax budget," and that the city is the taxing authority that provides the hearing space. No members of the public spoke in support, opposition, or neutral comment during the hearing.
After the public hearing concluded, council added the library item to the motion agenda. A motion to accept the 2026 Midpoint Library tax budget carried on a roll call vote; the roll call recorded affirmative votes from Council Members West, Horn, Mayor Slamka, Councilwoman Carter and Councilman Lolli. The ordinance to receive, file and adopt the 2026 tax budget will be forwarded to the Butler County auditor as required.
What happened: council followed the state statute process for a tax-budget hearing, heard a staff presentation of the librarys revenue and expenditure estimates for 2026, and voted to adopt the budget for submission to the county auditor. The adoption does not itself appropriate spending beyond the budget submission step; the auditors review and any subsequent appropriations remain separate.
Looking ahead: the library will proceed with the county-level steps needed to finalize the tax budget and any related certification; council did not amend the figures presented at the hearing.
