Committee backs presenting 80% library apportionment in 2027 budget; librarians say usage is up

The Price County executive committee debated whether to set the library apportionment at 70% or keep it at 80% for the 2027 budget. Administration presented the formula and the mill‑rate impacts; library representatives said in‑building visits and programs have risen.

"For Park Falls, we have had 15,695 people use the library this year so far," a Park Falls library representative told the committee, noting that daily averages and in‑building services (public internet access, programs, and workspace) are not captured fully by circulation counts. The administrator explained the apportionment is an outside levy and changing it mainly adjusts the total collected amount, not the county's operational budget directly.

Committee members asked for additional breakdowns of visits and circulation by municipality. After discussion, the committee recommended presenting the 80% apportionment to the full board for the preliminary budget rather than reducing it to 70% for 2027. Members said they expect administration to supply additional usage and outreach data to inform later budget decisions.

The committee noted that e‑circulation (ebooks/audiobooks) usage has increased but counties are not reimbursed for e‑circulation under the current formula; library representatives asked the county to consider that limitation when evaluating apportionment methods.