Council rejects Mount Pleasant City Library property-tax increase, urges alternatives

The Mount Pleasant City Council voted on Aug. 26 to disapprove a proposed property-tax increase requested by the Mount Pleasant City Library to cover a budget shortfall, after council members urged pursuing alternatives such as expanding the service-district funding base and additional fundraising.

Council discussion focused on who benefits from and pays library property taxes. One council member said a large share of the library’s property-tax revenue comes from inside city boundaries and argued the broader service district should shoulder more of the burden. "I just wanna make clear. I like the library. I support the library," the member said, while urging other funding sources instead of raising city residents' taxes.

Why it matters: the library’s requested tax increase would have raised property taxes for residents inside the city. By rejecting the increase, the council directed staff and council members to pursue alternative sources, including grant opportunities, event-based fundraising and outreach to portions of the service district that currently contribute less.

Council members suggested short-term measures such as establishing a "friends of the library" donor program, running recurring community events to raise funds, and approaching neighboring jurisdictions within the service district to contribute. The motion to disapprove the tax increase (moved by Kate and seconded by Lynn) carried on roll call.

The council asked staff to return with concrete proposals and outreach steps at a future council meeting so the library can address its deficit without a city property-tax increase.

The council’s action leaves the library to pursue alternative revenue strategies; staff has been tasked to compile options for council review.