FAQs
Henderson Libraries
Tax Initiative FAQ
Q: Why doesn’t the City of Henderson provide more funding?
A. The library district is not part of the City of Henderson. While its boundaries are co-terminus with the city, the library district is a special district, governed by an appointed Board of Trustees and funded by its own portion of consolidated tax and ad valorem (property) tax.
Q: What exactly is being proposed for this tax initiative?
A: The library district is proposing an ad valorem tax rate increase of 2 cents per $100 in assessed property value. Currently, the library receives 5.75 cents per $100 in assessed property value. With the increase, the library will receive 7.75 cents per $100 in assessed property value.
Q: What does this mean for the average household? Will my property taxes increase? If so, by how much?
A: Below are estimates of the cost of the proposed increase based on several property values: (It may help you to review your property tax information from the Clark County Assessor’s office.)
| Property Value | Assessed Value | Current yearly cost for library services |
Projected yearly cost with the increase |
Cost per year |
| $100,000 | $35,000 | $20.13 | $27.13 | $7.00 |
| $150,000 | $52,500 | $30.19 | $40.69 | $10.50 |
| $200,000 | $70,000 | $40.25 | $54.25 | $14.00 |
| $300,000 | $105,000 | $60.38 | $81.38 | $21.00 |
Q: What will the tax increase pay for?
A: The revenue produced by the additional 2 cents will go toward necessary operating expenses (such as utilities, office supplies, building maintenance, etc.) and the purchase of library materials for public use. It will NOT be used to increase salaries, benefits, or the number ofstaff positions.
Q: What will happen if this doesn’t pass? Will libraries close?
A: Yes. With real and projected declines in property tax revenue over the next 3 years and in order to maintain a balanced budget, the Galleria Library and the Malcolm Library will close and the positions associated with those libraries will be eliminated. District wide, fewer library materials will be purchased, causing longer wait times for popular titles. Library hours at other Henderson Libraries will likely be reduced, and some services may be discontinued entirely.
Q. What will happen if this passes? Will I get something more for my money?
A. With this small funding increase, operations can be stabilized at current levels. It will be a high priority to improve the library materials budget for both traditional materials as well as electronic.
Q: Why does Henderson Libraries’ funding need to be increased?
A: The decline in property assessed value and the related tax revenues have resulted in a 30 percent loss of revenue for the library over the past several years. Staff, hours, programs and materials have been reduced correspondingly. Without an increase in the library tax rate itself, the library cannot continue to offer the current services, and additional drastic reductions will be made.
The last time the library received a tax rate increase was in 1991 when Henderson had less than 65,000 residents. Today Henderson has over 265,000 residents.
Q: How do Henderson Libraries’ taxes compare to the taxes paid by other Clark County residents?
A: These are the FY12 property tax rates (per $100 in assessed property value) for the libraries in Clark County:
Las Vegas Clark Co. Library District – 9.42 cents
Boulder City Library – 8.55 cents
North Las Vegas Library – 6.32 cents
Henderson Libraries – 5.75 cents
Henderson residents currently pay significantly less for library services than other Clark County residents. Even with a 2-cent increase, Henderson Libraries’ rate would remain less than the rates for Las Vegas-Clark County Library and Boulder City Library.
Q: Why is the proposed tax initiative not to be used for growth?
A: The community has voted against growth in the past, and even with the proposed increase, funding will not support growth. This tax initiative gives the community the opportunity to maintain the current level of services for themselves, rather than losing library branches and customary services.
Q: Who does this increase in taxes affect?
A: This initiative will be decided by those individuals living within the boundaries of the City of Henderson. No one else in Las Vegas or Clark County will be affected by this initiative or any possible tax increase.
