Ellis County
The question “Shall Ellis County, Kansas establish and maintain a county library?” is on the Aug. 6 primary ballot.
On March 19, 2024, the Ellis County Commission approved Resolution No. R-2024-05. This resolution placed the question on the ballot for consideration by voters of Ellis County.
The question will be voted on by registered voters in the city of Victoria and unincorporated areas of Ellis County. The two existing public libraries, Ellis Public Library and Hays Public Library will continue to be supported by their respective municipalities.
If approved, a County Library Board of five members, appointed by the Ellis County Commission, will be established to maintain and govern the newly created Ellis County Library.
An Ellis County Library Board may contract with existing libraries in Ellis County, including the Hays Public Library and Ellis Public Library, to provide library services to county and area residents. There are no plans to build a new physical library in the county. However, extending services to Victoria, potentially to St. John’s Place, is a real possibility.
The five-member board must be residents of the taxing district, meaning residents in the city of Victoria and unincorporated areas of Ellis County.
Currently, Ellis County property outside the city limits of Ellis and Hays is assessed a tax funding the Central Kansas Library System (CKLS) with administrative offices at the Great Bend Public Library. In 2023, $292,853.51 was collected from Ellis County for CKLS. It’s estimated that by 2027 less than 25% of the taxes paid by Ellis County taxpayers to CKLS will be returned to Ellis County libraries.
After establishing the new library taxing district and regularly levying a tax for the Ellis County Library, a petition to withdraw the taxing district from the regional library system may be submitted to the State Library of Kansas Board. If Ellis County’s withdrawal is granted, the taxes assessed in support of CKLS would no longer be paid to CKLS but would, instead, be used locally in support of the Ellis County Library.
Instead of being controlled by CKLS, the level of taxation and use of funds would be controlled by the Ellis County Library Board.
All registered voters in the city of Victoria and unincorporated areas of Ellis County are eligible to vote on this question regardless of party affiliation. Advanced voting is available now at the Ellis County Administrative Center (718 Main St., Hays, KS) through noon Monday, Aug. 5. Primary Election Day is Tuesday, Aug. 6.
— Darin Myers, Ellis County administrator