Huntley library won't ask for tax hike

The congested stacks of the Huntley Area Public Library will remain a tight squeeze for the time being.

The library will not ask voters for a tax increase to triple the size of the cozy building at Ruth Road and Killey Drive.

Library trustees on Wednesday rejected a motion to put the request on the April 2009 ballot by a 4-3 vote.

"They felt it would be too soon after the last one," library Director Virginia Maravilla said. "A lot of people cited the economy. It was really out of concern for the residents."

Voters rejected the library's last attempt to raise taxes by a 3-2 margin in November.

In the fall, the library sought voter approval for $9.5 million in bonds to fund expansion.

The increase would have cost the owner of a $250,000 home an additional $60 in the first year.

The tax hike that library trustees were considering for the spring ballot would have been the same size, according to library officials.

Officials had hoped the growing support for expansion - the latest request failed by a smaller margin than the previous ballot measure - would finally lead to the passage of a tax increase in the spring.

With trustees holding off on a tax increase, the need for the library to consider cost-cutting has become more urgent.

Library staff will discuss cost-cutting measures at a Jan. 16 meeting, said Maravilla, who will take those ideas to the library board.

The library board's vote this week doesn't mean voters won't have to face another expansion request in the near future.

"Everybody knows it's very much needed," Maravilla said.