The Gunnison County Library District’s request for a tax increase to support the construction of a new library in Crested Butte South failed at the polls. Just over 58% of the county voted no and just under 42% voted yes on ballot issue 6A, according to unofficial results on Nov. 6.
The Library District requested a 1.1 mill levy increase to support expanded library services — such as more programming for library users, digital content and hours of operation — and a new library in Crested Butte South. The board is also considering building nine affordable housing units on the same site, but will finalize that decision during the schematic design phase early next year.
If approved, the increase would have amounted to an additional $1.25 million in the district’s 2025 budget. With the state’s 5.5% growth cap recently imposed on local governments, the library can’t increase its budget and support new projects without voter approval, Executive Director Drew Brookhart wrote to the Times.
“The construction and operation of a new public library in Crested Butte South is not possible without an increase in the district's annual operations funding,” he wrote.
This year was the district’s third attempt since its formation in 2008 at asking voters to help finance new projects and expand its book and digital collection. In 2019, voters approved a 1.9 mill levy increase to support overall district operations, one of three attempts to corral taxpayer money for libraries that succeeded.
The construction of a new library in Crested Butte South is expected to cost $8 million, or $12 million if the project includes affordable housing. The district’s board envisions the new library to offer indoor and outdoor space for events, free public meeting rooms and a children's library. Early designs include onsite geothermal and solar energy.
The district has already purchased a site in Crested Butte South’s central commercial area for a coming library. It also received a $1 million grant from the State of Colorado’s Energy Impact Assistance Fund to cover the design costs.
In September, the district’s board of directors selected Denver-based Studiotrope LLC to design the proposed library. Despite the lack of funding for construction, the board plans to use the grant to continue design work with Studiotrope in 2025.
“Gunnison County Libraries are grateful to everyone that supported initiative 6A. We’re also grateful to everyone who took the time to share their concerns about property taxes, the timing of 6A, and their satisfaction with current public library services,” Brookhart wrote in a press release. “The district is working hard to deliver an equal level of service for people throughout Gunnison County.”
(Abby Harrison can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or abby@gunnisontimes.com.)
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