Sycamore city manager says ‘mistake’ in public document showed inaccurate library tax levy increase

Sycamore Public Library tax levy remains same as 2023

Sycamore City Manager talks to the city's planning and zoning commission on Oct. 14, 2024. On Monday, Hall will talk to the City Council about creating a police and firefighter pension funding policy, according to city documents. (Camden Lazenby)

December 13, 2024 at 10:00 am CST

SYCAMORE – The Sycamore Public Library will not raise its property tax levy in 2024.

The Sycamore City Council, which is responsible for approving the library board’s requested levy, voted 7-1 to keep the public library levy total at $1.52 million.

That vote came after City Manager Michael Hall clarified a discrepancy between what Sycamore Public Library Executive Director Kim Halsey told the City Council in November and the number provided to city alderpersons in city documents.

At the time, Halsey said the library was “not asking to increase the levy,” but city documents indicated a 5% increase.

On Dec. 2, Hall said the city documents that were referenced in November and again provided to the public this month were incorrect.

“In the packet, it showed the library [levy] going up, but actually, that was a mistake,” Hall said. “And so now I’ve put in front of you the paper copy of that ordinance, which includes no increase for the library as well.”