Bloomfield Hills approves library contract

The Bloomfield Hills City Commission on Tuesday, August 13, approved the renewal of a contract between the city of Bloomfield Hills and Birmingham's Baldwin Public Library for library services. The contract, which next goes before the library board for approval, will then be placed on the August 2020 election ballot for a millage vote from Bloomfield Hills residents. About 1,300 Bloomfield Hills residents use library services at Baldwin Library, which includes book circulation, inter-library loans, home delivery, electronic books and resources, reading programs, book clubs, homework assistance and study and collaborative spaces. Library services have been provided since June 18, 2011, after an initial vote of residents to accept the millage rate for funding the services. The original agreement between the city and library was for three years. That agreement was amended in June of 2014 to continue services through November 14, 2020, after which the agreement expires. The current millage for services is .3766 mills, which is based on taxable property values and current cost per household in the city, which is $180.44 per household, per the city's 2011 agreement, and an annual cost to the city of $268,681. As a provision to the original contract and for the subsequent amendment to the agreement, the city pays the lesser of either a five-percent increase or the rate of inflation. Under the amended agreement approved August 13, the city would cap cost increases to three percent, with the contract to cover the next six years, or until November 14, 2026, if approved by the library board and voters.