Library Avoids Cuts with Millages Passing

It’s not just the people behind the Iron Ore Heritage Trail that are breathing a little easier.

Now that the election returns are in, the staff at the Peter White Public Library can relax a little bit too.

Marquette Township’s library millage was on the ballot for voters yesterday.

It had broad support from most of those who showed up at the polls, getting renewed by a 3–to–1 margin.

If it had failed, the library would have been forced into drastic budget cuts.

Library director Pam Christensen says it would have spelled a $170,000 loss.

She says the library would have had no choice but to cut hours, including evening hours and possibly an entire day, as well as to lay off employees.

She was also pleased to see Powell Township’s library millage pass by less than 20 votes.

Township voters got rid of their library millage in 1992.

But now the library will have millage support from the township for 2 years.

Library staff are looking at expanding outreach programs for the townships, especially Powell township, with its distance from Marquette.