12-1247. Library districts; tax levy, procedure to increase levy; certification to county clerk. (a) Except as provided by subsection (b), the directors of the library district, as the governing body thereof and in the same manner as required by law applying to other taxing units, shall levy annually a tax not to exceed 1.5 mills on each dollar assessed tangible valuation for the property of the library district, for the maintenance and support of a free public library, to be levied and collected in like manner with other taxes. The library board shall certify the levy on or before August 25th of each year to the county clerk who is hereby authorized and required to place the same on the tax rolls of the county to be collected by the treasurer of the county and to be paid over by the county treasurer to the treasurer of the library district.

(b) The directors of the library district shall have the authority to increase the mill levy authorized by subsection (a) in an amount not to exceed 3 mills on each dollar assessed tangible valuation for the property of the library district for the acquisition, maintenance and support of a free public library by adoption of a resolution. Such resolution shall be published once each week for two consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the library district. If within 30 days after the last publication of the resolution, a petition signed by not less than 5% of the qualified electors in the library district is filed in the office of the county election officer requesting an election thereon, no levy in an amount exceeding 1.5 mills shall be made unless the question is submitted to and approved by a majority of the voters of the library district voting at an election. Such election shall be called and held in the manner provided under the general bond law. If the question is approved, the levy shall be certified and placed on the tax rolls in the same manner provided by subsection (a).

History: L. 1965, ch. 145, § 12; L. 1986, ch. 72, § 1; April 17.