Manhattan-Elwood Library Board Approves Annual Tax Levy

Manhattan-Elwood Public Library District Board Meeting | September 2025

Article Summary
The Manhattan-Elwood Public Library District Board of Trustees unanimously approved its 2025 tax levy following a public hearing on September 22. The approval of Ordinance 25-4 formally sets the amount of property tax revenue the district will request to fund its operations for the upcoming fiscal year.

Library Tax Levy Key Points:

• The board convened a special Tax Levy Hearing at 4:30 p.m., prior to its regular meeting.

• Tax Levy Ordinance 25-4 was unanimously approved by a roll call vote.

• No members of the public provided comments during the hearing.

• The hearing was adjourned after two minutes, and the regular board meeting commenced immediately after.

MANHATTAN, Il. – The Manhattan-Elwood Public Library District Board of Trustees has officially approved its property tax levy for the 2025 fiscal year. The decision came during a brief, specially convened public hearing on Monday, September 22, held just before the board’s regular monthly meeting.

The hearing was called to order at 4:30 p.m. by Tom Murray, with board members Sharon Gill, Patti Blatti, Jan Krekel, and Keri English also present. With no public comment offered, the board proceeded directly to the single item of business: Ordinance 25-4.

Trustee Keri English made the motion to approve the tax levy ordinance, which was seconded by Trustee Sharon Gill. A roll call vote was taken, and the motion passed unanimously, finalizing the district’s formal request for property tax funds. The hearing was adjourned at 4:32 p.m.

A tax levy is the total amount of money a taxing body, such as a library or school district, requests from property taxpayers within its boundaries to fund its annual budget. This amount is then submitted to the county clerk, who uses it to calculate the tax rate that appears on individual property tax bills. The library’s approval is a critical annual step in securing its primary source of funding for operations, materials, and programming.