COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Voters approved a levy that will bring in $39 million for the Columbus Metropolitan Library system during its first year.

Columbus Metropolitan Library CEO Patrick Losinski announced the passage of Issue 16 Tuesday night. With 90% of precincts reporting, 63% of voters voted for the tax levy. 

“I am grateful to the voters for recognizing the value of Columbus Metropolitan Library and investing in the critical work that we do,” Losinski said. “This support is not taken lightly.”

The 1.5-mill continuing levy with no expiration will increase the library’s current revenue of about $81 million to about $120 million. For each $100,000 of market value, the levy will increase property owners taxes by $53.

The Columbus Metropolitan Library is funded by two primary sources: the state’s public library fund and voter-approved local property tax levy.

“These sources of money really fund everything that the library does,” Losinski said in an October interview. “So if you think about the services and programs we offer, if you think about the books and the electronic resources that we buy … and finally if you think about our facilities needs, [they] are taken care of with these dollars.”

While library officials haven’t made a specific budgeted list available, the library’s website states the money will go toward “materials, resources, technology, programs and facilities.”