By The Columbia Chronicle Staff
LANCASTER COUNTY — Voters turned down a proposed countywide library tax Tuesday, and it wasn’t close.
The question was failing by more than 55,000 votes, 63% to 37%, according to unofficial county results posted at 11:09 p.m. with all 241 precincts reporting.
| Response | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| No | 132,831 | 63.35% |
| Yes | 76,844 | 36.65% |
What was on the ballot
Shall the County of Lancaster establish a dedicated Library tax to provide for the maintenance of, and aid to, public Libraries in Lancaster County at the rate of .55 mills on the dollar on all taxable real estate within the County of Lancaster?
The tax would have added 0.55 mills to county property bills, about $55 for every $100,000 of assessed value, or roughly $110 a year on a $200,000 home. It had no end date.
The case for and against
Supporters, led by the Vote Yes 4 Libraries campaign, said most county libraries are nonprofits that must raise a quarter to more than two-thirds of their own budgets each year, and that a dedicated tax would pay for longer hours, better staff pay, more programs and more books. Cumberland, Dauphin and York counties already fund libraries this way.
Opponents said homeowners were already facing rising bills, including a proposed 10% borough tax increase in Columbia for 2027 and changes from this year’s reassessment. Organizers had not said how the money would be divided among libraries. Both candidates in the 36th state Senate District, Republican Tom Jones and Democrat James Malone, said they would vote no.
County voters also rejected a smaller library tax in 2005.
The Chronicle’s editorial board urged a no vote; our news coverage is separate from our opinions. Results are unofficial until the county certifies them.
