Cottage Grove holds informational session as village prepares April ballot referendum on new library at 312 W. Cottage Grove Road

Village Administrator Mac Ezey said Wednesday night that the Village of Cottage Grove will ask voters on the April 1 ballot whether to allow up to $1,300,000 in additional annual property tax levy to purchase, construct and operate a new municipal library at the former Learning Ladder property, 312 W. Cottage Grove Road.

The question was authorized earlier by the village board; staff described the session as educational only and said they were not advocating for a yes or no vote. "We're here exclusively to educate and inform," Village Administrator Mac Ezey said.

The referendum language asks for both operating and capital authority, staff said, because the village board elected to present the public with the full estimated cost of the service. Architects Engberg Anderson recommended demolition of the existing building and construction of a new library; that option is estimated at $8,200,000 for capital work, staff said. The village does not yet own the Learning Ladder property; the village has an option to purchase with an option payment of $40,000 and a listed purchase price of $1,400,000, according to staff remarks.

Why the referendum matters

If a majority of voters approve, the village would have authority to levy up to $1,300,000 more annually to pursue the purchase and to operate the library. Staff repeatedly emphasized that operational levy increases require voter approval under state tax levy limits, while the inclusion of capital costs in the ballot question was a board decision to present the "full freight" of the proposed service.

Operational and capital details presented

- Capital…