Marion voters turn down library levy

A levy to generate more funds for the Marion Public Library was voted down by 54 percent of voters Tuesday night.

The levy proposed a 27 cents per $1,000 of assessed property valuation towards operational costs for the library, and was a 23-cent increase from when it was last raised in 1989.

Library Director Mark Raber said the library staff will make do with what they have for now and will likely petition to send the levy to voters again in 2015. He said it's too early to tell if the Library Board would choose a  27 cent levy, the state maximum, again or something less.

"At this point, defeat of the levy will not change going forward with renovation and expansion planning, but it does raise questions about staffing that may have implications for building design," he said prior to the final results on Tuesday.

Raber said the levy would have supported operational expenses including electronics, print material and personnel.