Initial polling results indicate that the Muskingum County Library System renewal levy and addition will pass.

Election day results show the levy just passing by a hair with 14,259 votes (51 percent) in favor of the levy and 13,699 votes (49 percent) opposing the levy.

While the library won’t see any of the money from the levy until 2020, as the current levy in place runs through 2019, the approval will increase the levy to 1.25 mills from the previous 1 mills.

The increase takes Muskingum County property owners who own a home valued at $100,000 from a normal $29.68 annual tax paid to the library to a $38.43 annual tax benefiting the library. An increase of $8.75, annually.

The passage of the levy is more maintenance of the libraries than anything else,  Jennifer Spillman, the MCLS Executive Director, said in a previous Y-City News report. Although, she added, that there will be some potential improvements built into the budget once the levy goes into effect.

It has been nine years since the levy originated as a five year renewal levy back in 2009. Since then, the library system has been operating on roughly the same budget that it was when the levy originated.

Sean Fennell, the MCLS Marketing and Community Relations Director, said  in a previous Y-City News report that as time advances, things become more expensive. In order to continue operating at the same level it has been, Fennell said the levy needed to increase to account for inflation.  

These results reflect the initial tallies turned into the Muskingum County Board of Elections and only reflect unofficial polling results from Muskingum County. Final results will be announced by the end of the month.

On the ballot: Muskingum County Library System levy renewal, addition