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Voters reject tax hike for library

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Laclede County voters on Tuesday rejected a proposed levy hike for the Lebanon-Laclede County Library District. The issue, which would have raised the library property tax to 20 cents per $100 assessed valuation was opposed by nearly 60 percent of voters and favored by about 40 percent. The issue received 633 yes votes and 912 no votes, according to unofficial results Tuesday night from the Laclede County Clerk's Office. According to the ballot language, the funds would have been used for “improving and maintaining library facilities, enhancing safety and programming for children, seniors and families, expanding services into rural areas of Laclede County, for access to technology and collections to serve public demand and for the general operation and staffing of the Lebanon-Laclede County Library District.” Plans also included maintenance and improvements for the building that houses the library. Before the election, Library Director Cathy Dame had said the levy was currently just over 13 cents per $100 of assessed valuation and had actually dropped this year. Library officials had said the tax hike would have put the levy back to the rate of 20 cents per $100 assessed valuation that was approved by library district voters in 1966.