Library Bond Referendum – Carlisle Iowa Public Library

On November 5, 2024

The City of Carlisle will ask voters to approve a $7.75 million bond referendum to pay for a new and expanded library for the residents of Carlisle, Iowa.

Why is an Investment for the Library Needed?

The Carlisle Public Library is an important part of our community. The library has over 30,000 visits each fiscal year. The current library does not have enough space to serve our growing community! Our current library space has served the community for the past 43 years.

A small public library with a brick exterior and an American flag mounted on a pole in front. A wooden bench is placed near the entrance, and a large tree provides shade. The building is surrounded by grass and a sidewalk leads to the door.

Served the community for 43 years

A woman stands reading a book to a large group of children seated on the floor in a vibrant and colorful library. Shelves filled with books and stuffed animals are visible in the background, and a sign reading "NON-FICTION" is displayed above the shelves.

Current children’s space is crowded

However, the limited space presents current challenges:

At 3,600 square feet, it is the 3rd smallest library by population in the state of Iowa.
There is limited space to expand the books and materials available for patrons.
Due to the space shortage, we hold numerous programs off-site or close the library to accommodate event popularity.
Spaces are not adequately designed to support individuals with mobility challenges.• Story time space is too small to meet the demand.
Rooms are needed for small groups, individual studying, and meetings.
The city has a need for a multi-use community room that can hold up to 150 people.

The Carlisle Library Foundation and Friends of the Carlisle Library have spent the last 10 years researching how best to invest in the library’s physical structure to better serve the Carlisle community.

Proposed New Library Location and Layout

The new and expanded library will be located at the existing Recreation Center adjacent to the pool. This building is currently owned by the City and in need of renovation.

What Will the Bond Cost Me?

The table below shows the estimated annual property tax impact for the $7.75 million bond to build a new and expanded library. The City of Carlisle has been discussing the need to make an investment in the library facility for many years. Careful financial planning by the City will lessen the tax increase to taxpayers to fund the proposed bond.

The below chart represents a maximum increase of an estimated $0.10 per $1,000 of assessed property, after accounting for reductions in existing debt payments and wrapping the bond into existing debt.

Tax Table

Iowa law requires that we present the full impact of borrowing $7.75 million. However, due to other debt retiring, the change in property tax is significantly less and shown in the last column.