Bath-area voters overwhelmingly rejected a proposal to double funding for the Dormann Public Library, according to the Corning Leader. The measure failed by a 546-208 margin and would have increased the library’s tax levy from about $383,000 to more than $765,000.
Library officials said the increase was needed to offset rising costs and shrinking charitable support. They warned before the vote that reserves have been covering basic expenses and that current funding levels are not sustainable.
The library says the failed proposal will lead to cuts in programs and services, though it does not expect to close. The vote comes as library use continues to grow, with more than 5,200 people attending programs and nearly 30,000 items borrowed in 2025.
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