Porter Public Library presents 2027 tax budget and new fiscal officer; board approves

The Westlake Porter Public Library presented its tax-budget estimate for 2027 and introduced a new fiscal officer at the Westlake City Schools board meeting on May 18, and the board approved the library's tax budget after a brief hearing.

At the podium, a library representative (speaker 11) said the library expects roughly $6.7 million in revenue and emphasized that about 70–77% of the library’s resources support personnel and services. "We are here to support and, support our community," the representative said, describing the building (about 77,000 square feet on 8 acres) and the library’s 70-hours-per-week schedule.

The library introduced Beth Snezak, who identified herself as the library’s fiscal officer. "I am Beth Snezak. I am the fiscal officer for the library," she said, and added she grew up in Westlake and is enthusiastic about working with the district.

The presentation highlighted programming and partnerships the library plans for 2027, including a STEM project that will let patrons remotely operate a telescope in Spain and download images. "You will be able to come into the library and . . . direct the actual telescope to look into the sky," the library representative said, and invited teachers and students to take advantage of the opportunity.

Board members asked about the library’s revenue mix and how state or local changes might affect services. Chair (speaker 1) flagged the ongoing public debate over property-tax repeal: "Especially this discussion around repealing of property taxes, that would very much impact the Porter Public Library budget," the chair said. The library representative responded that the library’s levy is property-tax based and that state funding accounts for a smaller share.

The board opened the statutory tax-budget hearing for the Porter Public Library and later approved the library tax budget by roll-call vote. Recorded yes votes during the roll call included Lamb, Graff, Rome and Banuky; the motion carried.

The library also noted operational priorities for the coming year—personnel (approximately 70% of budget), materials (about 15%), and operations/maintenance (about 15%)—and flagged work on a levy-renewal timeline: the trustee board has two years remaining on the current levy and expects to consider renewal timing later this year.

The presentation closed with library event announcements for summer 2026 and an invitation to collaborate with Westlake City Schools on STEM programming.

The board moved on to other agenda items after the vote; the library representatives left the meeting following the hearing.