Cottage Grove voters rejected an April 1 referendum that would have approved $8.2 million for a library on the site of a now-closed day care center in the heart of the village, the Wisconsin State Journal reports. Over the past 20 years, Cottage Grove’s population has more than doubled to over 9,000 people, but it still lacks its own library. The Dane County Bookmobile has provided literary resources to the village since 1969 but is only available there six hours per week.
A previous plan, deemed too expensive, would have built a $23 million library on land owned by Friends of the Library. Library supporters had anticipated broader support for the new plan, which instead was rejected by a 2-1 margin.
The recently-rejected referendum included $750,000 of annual operating costs and a projected tax increase of roughly $400 per year for the owner of a $400,000 home. However, capital campaigns, grants and the elimination of a $350,000 annual library tax from the county could have reduced that tax impact.
The library board, as part of a strategic plan, is now seeking an interim space and asking the village board for direction. It may also increase funding for a librarian to expand programming. The interim space would provide a centralized location for book returns, meetings, literacy programs, storytimes and more. The board also announced that it raised $550,000 in pledges for a new library in around six weeks, signaling support for the facility, if not for the plan specified by the referendum.
