Information on Library Services for
Seward County Kansas

Q:       What is the difference between a city library and a county library?

A:       A city library is governed by the city commissioners, which means the city commissioners appoint the library board of trustees and approves the library's budget.  Once tax dollars are collected by the county, the city funnels the money to the library.  A city library is funded by tax dollars from residents whom reside within the city limits.

A county library is governed by the county commissioners, which means the county commissioners appoint the library board and approves the library's budget.  Once tax dollars are collected by the county, the money is sent directly to the library.  A county library is funded by tax dollars from residents whom reside within the county limits.

 

Q:       Where do the tax dollars go?

A:       For the year 2005, rural Seward County residents will send approximately $202,771 to SWKLS to support the system and the cooperating libraries in the system.  In exchange for these tax dollars, the two libraries in Seward County, Liberal Memorial and Kismet Public Library, will receive a combined total of $35,809 or 18% of the tax dollars sent to SWKLS through Extended Service Grants.

Under the present city library structure, projected for 2006, rural Seward County residents will send approximately $169,323 to SWKLS to support the system and the cooperating libraries in the system.  In exchange for these tax dollars, Liberal Memorial Library and Kismet Public Library will receive a combined total of $41,613 or 25% of the tax dollars sent to SWKLS through Extended Service Grants and the following services:

• Cataloging and Interlibrary Loan - Liberal Memorial Library catalogs its own materials.  Kismet Public receives assistance from SWKLS for cataloging.   Both libraries use the Interlibrary Loan service;
• Continuing Education - Both libraries use the continuing education opportunities provided by the system;
• Technology Consulting - Liberal Memorial Library has a full-time technology person to keep our computers and other technology running.  Kismet Public Library receives assistance from the system.

 

If Seward County created a county library system, after a 2 year system tax, the county library would send approximately $50,000 to the system as a contracting county.  This number is based on the proposed contracting county fee for 2006.  Liberal Memorial Library and Kismet Public Library would no longer receive the Extended Service Grants, but would receive the following services.

• Cataloging and Interlibrary Loan- Liberal Memorial Library would catalog all materials for both branches.  Interlibrary loan would continue uninterrupted.
• Continuing Education- Both libraries would attend continuing education opportunities provided by the system.
• Technology Consulting- Liberal Memorial Library would be responsible for technology at both facilities, with assistance from SWKLS as needed.

 

Q:       I read a Letter to the Editor from SWKLS and I was confused about who is taxed and who is not.

A:       Who is and who is not taxed can quickly become murky and I applaud SWKLS for helping to clarify some key points.  I do not believe anyone who has researched whether or not Seward County should become a county library has ever stated residents of Liberal and Kismet are taxed for the system.  What has been said is that residents of Seward County who do not live within the city limits of Kismet or Liberal and are not taxed for a local library are taxed for SWKLS.  I apologize for the confusion regarding who is and is not taxed for SWKLS.

Q:       Are rural county residents (individuals living outside the cities of Liberal or Kismet) taxed for either Liberal Memorial Library or Kismet Public Library.

A:       No.  County residents are taxed for the Southwest Kansas Library System (SWKLS) located in Dodge City.  SWKLS receives tax dollars from 7 taxing counties in SW Kansas to maintain its staff and assist libraries throughout SW Kansas with various services.  Part of the tax dollars sent to SWKLS is returned each year to the libraries in the 7 taxing counties through Extended Service Grants to help local libraries provide services to county residents.

Q:       As a resident of Liberal am I taxed for SWKLS?

A:       Residents of Seward County who do not live in the cities of Liberal or Kismet (a.k.a. "rural" residents) are the only residents taxed for the Southwest Kansas Library System.  Residents of Liberal and Kismet are already taxed for local libraries and by law cannot be taxed for SWKLS.

Q:       How much money does Seward County send to SWKLS each year?

A:       The amount of money varies from year to year.  Below is a chart of tax dollars sent from Seward County to SWKLS for the years 2003-2005.

   

Q:       How much money does SWKLS receive from the 7 taxing counties?

A:       The amount of money varies from year to year.  Below is a chart of tax dollars sent to SWKLS from the 7 taxing counties for the years 2003-2005.

Q:       If Seward County votes to become a county library system, will my property taxes increase?

A:       If Seward County establishes a county library, residents of Liberal and Kismet should see a reduction in property taxes for the library.  However, county residents will see an increase.  To adequately fund a county library system with a branch in Liberal and a branch in Kismet, the library will need approximately $650,000 in county tax dollars. 

Liberal Memorial Library currently receives $480,669 or 4.5 mills from the city and Kismet Public Library receives $7656 or 4.81 mills from Kismet residents.  Rural county residents pay 1.361 mills to the Southwest Kansas Library System for a total of $691,096.06 spent on library services. Please see chart below.

Current Structure for 2005 

 

Mil Levy for County Library System
Using 3 Mil Levy Example 

Q:       Will services change at either Liberal Memorial Library or Kismet Public Library?

A:       Yes.  Liberal Memorial Library will see a few changes such as more programming and a greater outreach into the community and rural areas.  Kismet Public Library will have improved services and materials, such as DVDs, videos, audiobooks, and a greater variety of printed materials.  Since staff members will work for the county library, patrons may see our children's librarian in Kismet one day a week and our collection development supervisor the next day.  Additionally, the hours of operation may increase in Kismet providing greater access to information.

Q:       Who owns the library books?

A:       The residents of Liberal own the materials at Memorial Library and the residents of Kismet own the materials at Kismet Public Library.  If a county library system is formed all residents of Seward County will own the materials.

Q:       Who will make the decision whether or not to hold a county-wide election?

A:       The County Commissioners will decide whether or not to hold a county-wide election.  Memorial Library and Kismet Public Library have only provided information to the commissioners.  Although the libraries are in support of a county library system, the libraries are powerless to call for an election, and can only lobby residents to keep more Seward County tax dollars in Seward County.

Q:       What happens next?

A:       As requested by the commissioners, Liberal Memorial Library and Kismet Public Library have provided the findings of our research.  Both library boards have written letters to the County Commissioners in support of forming a county library system.  It is now up to our elected officials to make an informed decision about whether or not to hold a county-wide election.  If an election is held and passes then as of January 1, 2006 Seward County will have a county library system with two branches, one in Liberal and one in Kismet.

Q:       If an election is called, why must the election occur before August?

A:       The cities of Liberal and Kismet, as well as the county must have their budgets to the state in August.  The mil levied on behalf of a county library system must be included in the county's budget.  The cities also must show the mil levied for Memorial Library or Kismet Public in their budgets if the county library system does not pass.

Q:       If the residents of Seward County vote to create a county library, what is the process to withdraw from the taxing base of SWKLS?

A:       Once a county library is established the county will begin taxing each piece of property, rural and city, for the county library.  The mil will be the same for all residents of Seward County.  After Seward County has taxed for a county library for two years, the county will petition the State Library Advisory Commission to withdraw from the tax base of the Southwest Kansas Library System.  If approved, rural residents of Seward County will no longer be taxed for SWKLS.

SWKLS Tax Income
2003	General Levy	Emp. Ben Levy	Total	ESG Received	Percent of Return
Clark County	27,333.47	2,220.24	29,553.71	14,310.00	48%
Edwards County	31,330.79	2,528.87	33,859.66	20,755.00	61%
Ford County	77,758.52	6,301.98	84,060.50	37,335.00	44%
Hodgeman County	20,777.87	1,696.36	22,474.23	9,725.00	43%
Meade County	52,360.29	4,204.76	56,565.05	25,340.00	45%
Ness County	31,069.80	2,512.25	33,582.05	17,160.00	51%
Seward County	132,436.75	10,605.90	143,042.65	20,790.00	15%
2004	General Levy	Emp Ben Levy	Total	ESG Received	Percent of Return
Clark County	37,079.44	5,445.86	42,525.30	14,310.00	34%
Edwards County	42,463.44	6,185.02	48,648.46	20,755.00	43%
Ford County	106,062.74	15,391.70	121,454.44	37,335.00	31%
Hodgeman County	27,941.34	4,071.69	32,013.03	9,725.00	30%
Meade County	56,877.21	8,688.16	65,565.37	25,340.00	39%
Ness County	46,937.79	6,840.43	53,778.22	17,160.00	32%
Seward County	144,433.33	21,440.02	165,873.35	20,790.00	13%
2005 (Anticipated)	General Levy	Emp Ben Levy	Total	ESG Received	Percent of Return
Clark County	28,512.11	3,295.25	31,807.36	18,148.00	57%
Edwards County	38,386.34	4,436.45	42,822.79	25,169.00	59%
Ford County	94,690.71	10,943.76	105,634.47	48,324.00	46%
Hodgeman County	25,576.52	2,955.97	28,532.49	12,604.00	44%
Meade County	59,316.57	6,855.44	66,172.01	31,290.00	47%
Ness County	44,189.75	5,107.18	49,296.93	22,054.00	45%
Seward County	181,763.92	21,007.14	202,771.06	35,809.00	18%
2006 (Anticipated)	General Levy	Emp Ben Levy	Total	ESG Received	Percentage of Return
Clark County	26,231.14	329.53	26,560.67	19,632.00	74%
Edwards County	35,315.43	443.65	35,759.08	26,809.00	75%
Ford County	87,115.45	1,094.38	88,209.83	52,570.00	60%
Hodgeman County	23,530.40	295.60	23,826.00	13,717.00	58%
Meade County	54,571.24	685.54	55,256.79	33,589.00	61%
Ness County	40,654.57	510.72	41,165.29	23,946.00	58%
Seward County	167,222.81	2,100.71	169,323.52	41,613.00	25%