As the library funding referendum approaches, Tess McKinley, a pillar of our community and Executive Director of the Steuben County Branch of Cornell Cooperative Extension, shared her thoughts:
“To the residents of Bath,
Our community is fortunate to have the Dormann Library—a place that truly offers something for everyone. From educational resources and internet access to engaging programs and welcoming spaces, the library serves residents of all ages and backgrounds with professionalism and care.
This year, the library is asking voters to approve a tax increase. While no one welcomes higher taxes, it’s important to understand why this request is both reasonable and necessary. For years, the library has worked diligently to minimize its financial impact on taxpayers, even drawing from its own reserves to avoid raising taxes at a faster rate. Unfortunately, those reserves are no longer sufficient to sustain operations.
At the same time, the library needs to take long-overdue steps to support its staff. The small team of employees —who have faithfully served our community for decades—do not have basic benefits like health insurance and retirement plans like most other employees in other sectors. These are not luxuries; they are essential to retaining the dedicated, knowledgeable local staff who make the library such a valuable resource. Not only have the employees been working to better support the library and community, but the library has also increased its programming and services to meet community demand.
In addition, donations are not what they once were, making public funding even more critical. Without this increase, the library may be forced to scale back services that so many rely on daily.
The Dormann Library is more than just a building with books—it is a cornerstone of our community, open and accessible to all. Supporting it means investing in education, opportunity, and connection for everyone in Bath.
I will be voting “Yes” on June 2 and encourage friends and neighbors to also come out to vote on the library budget. This small investment will ensure that our library continues to thrive for years to come.”