COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Voters in a number of Ohio communities have come to the aid of public libraries that have been cutting hours and staff due to state budget cuts.
Levies were approved Tuesday to support library systems, including one of the state's largest. The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County expects to receive $100 million over five years through a property tax measure that will cost the owner of a $100,000 home about $30 a year.
Eight library measures passed in the Dayton area, including one to provide $13.6 million annually for the Dayton Metro Library. Director Tim Kambitsch says the vote confirms people think libraries are important.
The Ohio Library Council had estimated that at least 15 percent of the state's 251 systems had levies on Tuesday's ballot.
