Levy

We could lose almost half of our income. The library would have to reduce days and hours of operation, layoff staff, slash our purchase of new items for the collection, and curtail programs like storytimes and adult education.

The library will remain open 7 days a week and will continue our mission of connecting our community with information through our current services. We will also pursue new projects like an outdoor renovation, an outreach vehicle for homebound deliveries, and more convenient pick-up options.

The library receives:

43% of its funding from the local tax levy (the one on the May 5 ballot)
51% from the State of Ohio’s Public Library Fund
6% from other sources, like donations and item replacement fees.

Yes. Funding for Ohio’s libraries was reduced in July 2025. Today, the library is receiving about the same dollar amount from the state that it did 25 years ago.

No. Our library is an independent public library serving residents of Cuyahoga Falls and Silver Lake. We are not part of the Akron-Summit County Public Library system and receive no funds from them.

The 2.2 mill levy will cost the homeowner of a $100,000 house $77 per year, or about $1.48 per week.

The community receives $4.82 (almost $5) worth of library services for every $1 spent by the library. (Source: Ohio Library Council ROI Calculator)

The library's current levy is 1.9 mills. It was first passed in 2011, was most recently renewed in the November 2020 election, and is now set to expire at the end of this year in 2026. The library is requesting a new 2.2 mill levy on May 5 to replace the current levy and begin collecting in 2027.

Why are you asking for an increase?

Cuyahoga Falls Library has been receiving the same dollar amount from local property taxes each year for the past 15 years. This past summer (July 2025), state funding for all of Ohio’s public libraries was reduced. State library funding is currently at the same dollar amount as it was 25 years ago, while costs for books, wages, supplies, and more have increased.

Did you know? The Cuyahoga Falls Library has over 100,000 books in its collection.

People borrowed 186,012 ebooks and digital audiobooks in 2025, 15% more than in 2024.

Did you know? Libraries continue to pay significantly higher prices for ebooks and digital audiobooks than the average consumer. (Check out this informative article from San Jose Public Library.)

Did you know? 211,184 pages were printed at the library in 2025.

Chart shows District 2 collection rates, which are approximately 92% of the Cuyahoga Falls Library's property tax base. Chart does not include District 57. Numbers provided by the Summit County Fiscal Office.