Referendum Info

For more than four decades, the Bourbonnais Public Library has operated at essentially the same tax rate while expanding services, technology, collections, and community programming. During that time, the Library even expanded its building without asking taxpayers for an increase.

Today, however, rising operating costs, aging infrastructure, and increased community demand have made that approach unsustainable. This referendum is about preserving what the community values while preparing for the future.

Responsible stewardship isn't just about spending wisely today. It's also about making thoughtful decisions that ensure the Library can continue serving the community tomorrow. As concerns about long-term financial sustainability have increased, Library leadership began working with a financial consultant in 2024 to proactively address these challenges.

The library is now requesting a tax rate increase because our costs for maintaining current services and programming, collections, building, and operations have risen significantly in recent years. Additionally, the Library has critical building infrastructure and systems that are projected to cost approximately $500,000.

Without additional funding, reductions will be made to hours, programming, and services that many in our community rely on. This increase will help us maintain and expand services and collections and ensure our facilities remain safe and welcoming for everyone.

This investment will allow the Library to better serve the needs of our growing community—today and for years to come. Specifically, it will:

• Allow for long-term financial growth and sustainability. Rising operating costs are outpacing current revenue; a tax rate increase will allow the Library to maintain services while planning for the future.
• Address critical building maintenance while ensuring the Library remains safe, welcoming, and accessible. 
• Create additional quiet reading, study, and tutoring spaces.
• Expand children's, teen, and family areas to reduce noise conflicts and improve the experience for everyone.
• Add flexible meeting rooms for community groups, students, nonprofits, and small businesses.
• Increase space for library collections, technology, and lifelong learning resources.

Without additional funding, the Library would be forced to make difficult decisions, including reducing service hours and programming and deferring building maintenance.

A community survey was conducted in May and June 2026 and incorporates daily feedback from library patrons. Themes are consistent: patrons continue to indicate a need for quiet spaces, meeting spaces, and expanded programming and collections.

Hundreds of residents shared feedback through a community survey. The most common themes included:

• Need for more quiet spaces
• More meeting and study rooms
• Additional children's and teen programming
• Expanded collections
• Continued investment in friendly, knowledgeable staff
• Additional technology and makerspace opportunities

This proposal was developed directly from this community feedback, which requested these updates.

Every dollar supports:

• Books and digital collections
• All ages programming
• Technology
• Building operations
• Staff
• Community meeting spaces
• Maintenance

We understand that every household carefully considers the impact of property taxes. If approved by voters, the proposed increase would add approximately $11 per month for a home with a market value of $300,000.

That investment would allow the Library to:

• Maintain current services and hours
• Address critical building maintenance
• Create additional quiet study and meeting spaces
• Expand collections and technology
• Strengthen children's, teen, and adult programming
• Prepare the Library to serve the community for decades to come

For more than 40 years, the Bourbonnais Public Library has operated at essentially the same tax rate while expanding services and responsibly managing taxpayer resources. If passed, this referendum will be the Library's first opportunity to increase that operating rate in its history. To determine your yearly and monthly cost, see the tax impact calculator below.

For the current tax year (2025), the library’s tax rate is 0.1567. For a home with a market value of $300,000, that is approximately $12.50 per month and $150 annually.