MEEKER | The Meeker Regional Library Board continued its months-long review of budget planning, mill levy options and long-term capital needs during a November work session last week. The board also discussed facility safety concerns and received an update on its intergovernmental agreement with the town and county. All board members were present.
Attorney Glory Schmidt briefed the board on recent changes to Colorado’s property-tax laws, noting that special districts are now subject to a revenue cap limiting property-tax growth to 10.5% every two years. Because the cap is tied to the previous two years of property-tax collections, she cautioned the board to carefully consider the implications of setting the mill levy at zero.
“The only thing I want to highlight is the board is completely free to do whatever it wants with the mill levy,” Schmidt said. “But now special districts have a revenue collection cap, and it’s 10.5% every two years.”
She added that setting the levy at zero would have long-term impacts.
“Let’s say you decide to have a mill levy of zero, and so you collect no property tax revenue. That is your starting point for the revenue collection that you can collect for the next two years,” she said. “You won’t be able to exceed 10% of zero dollars.”
Board members reviewed previous ballot language that authorizes up to 2.032 mills, though the district has historically levied 1.016 mills and more recently reduced the levy to 0.1 mills.
Board member Michael Cobb asked whether future legislative changes could “grandfather” the district under earlier rules. Schmidt said maintaining consistency and documenting any reductions as temporary are the district’s best protections.
“It always gives you the ability in the future to levy a mill levy if you need it,” Schmidt said.
Certified Public Accountant Paul Wilson joined the meeting virtually to present multiple budget scenarios. Using financials through Sept. 30, he updated 2025 projections and separated expenses into operating and capital outlay categories to clarify ongoing costs versus long-term projects.
Under the district’s draft 2026 budget, operating expenditures total roughly $723,000. Wilson presented variations based on the full 2.032 mills, the traditional 1.016 mills, the current 0.1 mill and interest-earning assumptions ranging from 3% to 4%.
One option reviewed by the board removes certain discretionary expenses — including public relations, programming support and repairs — to determine the library’s “true operating needs.” Under that model, operating costs drop to about $593,000. With interest earnings included, the district would need about $43,000 in property-tax revenue, nearly matching the amount generated by a 0.1-mill levy.
The board also discussed how technology expenses should be categorized. Wilson noted that while items may appear under “technology” in bookkeeping, auditors often reclassify hardware purchases as capital outlay. Schmidt reminded the board that upcoming state-mandated computer-filtering requirements could impact future software subscription costs.
After reviewing options with Schmidt and Wilson, the board agreed to finalize the operating budget first, then revisit capital outlay once it completes its multi-year capital plan and receives firmer cost estimates.
A minor adjustment — increasing the 2026 utilities line item from $30,000 to $35,000 — was proposed to account for usage trends and winter rate increases.
The board is expected to certify the mill levy and adopt the 2026 budget at its Dec. 10 meeting at 5:30 p.m. in the Meeker Public Library community room.