Huntley library seeks tax vote

Citing a need for more space, the Huntley Area Public Library says it plans to ask voters for a tax increase in November.

The library board has not yet determined the size of the request and is working with financial consultants to determine how much to seek.

Library Director Virginia Maravilla said the additional funding would expand the library's capacity.

When the existing, 15,000-square-foot library opened in 1999, it served 15,000 patrons. Now, it must meet the needs of 50,000 residents from Huntley and surrounding towns, Maravilla said in a statement.

Lack of space was the chief concern of library patrons according to a recent survey, officials said.

"They basically made the decision to go to referendum based on the survey results," library spokesman Doug Cataldo said. "What to ask for is still to come because they want to get patron input."

A tax hike would also enable the library to enlarge its collection, expand its services and house more programs, many of which are held off-site, Maravilla said.

The board will be seeking feedback from residents to help determine the size of the referendum request.

To offer your feedback, visit the library's booth Saturday or Sunday at the Huntley Expo at the Harmony Road school campus, or stop by the library through March 31.

The referendum would be the library's first since April 2005, when voters overwhelmingly rejected the library's bid to raise $14 million for a 67,000-square-foot expansion.