Evanston property owners would pay 3.15% more in library taxes next year under a budget plan the Library Board advanced Wednesday, Sept. 16.

The board directed staff to prepare a 2027 levy that would raise the operating fund from $9.48 million to $9.7 million, a 2.5% increase. The debt service levy would jump 14.45%, from $547,823 to $626,977, Evanston Now reported.

That debt service increase alone adds roughly $79,000 to the library's annual property tax ask.

Despite the higher levy, total library spending is projected to fall. Interim Executive Director Heather Norborg told board members that overall spending in 2027 is expected to decline 4.48% to $11.6 million, according to Evanston Now. The drop follows completion of the library's roof repair project, which reduced planned capital costs. Operating expenses, by contrast, are anticipated to rise 2.62% to about $10.7 million.

The current debt service levy of $547,822 matches the figure in the city's financial records, which list the library debt service fund's property tax budget for fiscal year 2026 at the same amount.

Library officials first recommended the operating increase at a board meeting around Sept. 3. One open question at the time was how much pay raises would cost under a new collective bargaining agreement the city is negotiating with AFSCME Local 1891. The union represents library staff, and the outcome of those talks could affect how far the proposed levy stretches.

Norborg said at that earlier meeting that "even if salary increases were more than the anticipated 2% raise, the library's reserves would still be above $5 million by the end of next year." That cushion would keep the library in line with its board policy of maintaining at least four months of operating reserves.

Even with the labor uncertainty, the board moved forward with the levy direction on Sept. 17. The combined operating and debt service levies would total roughly $10.33 million if adopted as proposed.

The board will hold a "truth in taxation" public hearing on Wednesday, Oct. 21. The hearing is open to public comment. A vote to adopt the levy is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 18.