public-interest

Whereas the education, security and the encouragement of Detroit area youth and adults are within the public purpose of the Detroit Public Library System’s mission and that the same public library system has served the interests of our citizens for 158 years starting with a 5,000 book collection and has grown in dramatic fashion inclusive of our main library located on Woodward Avenue and several other branches that are geographically located within the city to serve citizens in connection with their leisure, reading, and educational needs, research, employability needs specifically in providing free access to computers and the Internet, and have in the past been marshalled into service to address public needs in life-threatening cold weather conditions, and in other cases provide safe haven against extreme heat, as well as many other valued programs and services necessary to support our citizens, and;

Whereas the citizens of Detroit have prioritized the provision of the above services by enacting a multi-year stable funding stream to support library services. It is this millage along with other minor funding sources including grants, fees, and donations that make up the funding base for our library system, and;

Whereas the City of Detroit and the State of Michigan have engaged in various forms of economic development oftentimes redirecting or capturing millage revenues from the operations of the Detroit Public Library system impeding DPL as a system to adequately service the public and support the staff of our library system, and;

Whereas the Detroit Board of Library Commissioners acting in the best interests of the Detroit Public Library system acted, where Michigan Law provided, to opt-out of the incremental increase of taxes related to the DDA boundary changes associated with the construction of the Little Caesars Arena (LCA) in 2014. DPL entered into an agreement with the Downtown Development Authority (Interlocal Agreement Regarding Tax Capture Sharing – 1-23-2014) to implement our demand to opt-out of continued financial impediments that jeopardize out library system, and;

Therefore, Be It Resolved, that the Detroit Board of Library Commissioners agree that the Detroit Library System desperately needs ALL of its revenue streams working together without reductions to competently operate the above system meeting the needs of our citizen and visitor base, and;

Be It Further, Resolved that the Board of Library Commissioners publicly express our objection to any and all economic development projects and procedures the jeopardize the future operation and physical needs of our library system including industrial abatements, brownfield initiatives, commercial or specialized tax treatments under taken under the guise of supporting economic development, and;

Be it Finally, Resolved that the Detroit Board of Library Commissioners direct the DPL Administration and General Counsel for DPL to immediately notify interested parties of our concerns and intent to opt-out or take necessary measures to safeguard the financial stability of the Detroit Public Library system. They shall provide a resolution prepared and vetted to further our opt-out demand for the April 2023 Commission meeting, and further create the necessary information for public distribution of our concerns as outlined above and direct a full-throated lobbying effort of State and local officials to address shortfalls and other funding impediments impacting the DPL.