RHPL Funding
How much do I currently pay for library services?
Property taxes are calculated based on the taxable value of a piece of property, which is typically approximately 50% of the market value. The rate by which property is taxed is called a mill. A millage is the amount per $1,000 of a property's taxable value. To calculate the amount generated from a millage, a homeowner would divide the taxable value of their home by 1,000 and then multiply that sum by the millage rate of a service.
Oakland County sends homeowners assessed and taxable values at the start of the calendar year, but these numbers can also be found online.
In 2025 Rochester Hills, residents pay $1.11 (combined millage rate) per taxable thousand dollars. So, using the formula above, a 1.11 mill tax rate on a home with a market value of $200,000 and a taxable value of $100,000 in Rochester Hills would generate $111 in taxes annually. ((100,000/1,000) x 1.11 = $111)
Currently, the City of Rochester does not have a dedicated millage, but pays out of a general fund that is made up of property tax revenue from residents. The rate used as the basis of the contract fee for the City of Rochester is .885.
Oakland Township currently has a combined millage rate of .7081 from three millages: .0004548, .0001133, and .00014.
Library Name | Population Size | Total Revenue | Tax Revenue | Per Capita Funding | Total Millage Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Birmingham Public Library | 21,813 | $5,758,509 | $4,172,284 | $191.28 | 1.30 |
Bloomfield Twp Public Library | 44,253 | $9,663,508 | $8,926,108 | $201.71 | 1.85 |
Canton Public Library | 98,659 | $7,962,359 | $7,425,334 | $75.26 | 1.43 |
Farmington Community Library | 95,583 | $7,880,146 | $6,812,731 | $71.28 | 1.46 |
Orion Township Public Library | 38,206 | $3,379,000 | $3,180,600 | $83.25 | 1.31 |
Troy Public Library | 87,294 | $7,211,589 | $6,656,765 | $76.26 | 1.10 |
West Bloomfield Twp Public Library | 65,888 | $6,926,075 | $5,981,235 | $90.78 | 1.32 |
Rochester Hills Public Library | 76,300 | $7,340,338 | $5,267,497 | $69.04 | 1.11 |
Are RHPL finances well managed?
Financial audits are conducted annually by varying firms and for a decade have all yielded the same result – clean financial accounting and records management.
Audits and financial information for the past three years are posted on the Board of Trustees page. RHPL includes monthly financial statements as part of the RHPL Trustee board packet to make all transactions as transparent as possible.
Who uses the library? Is it still relevant?
The use of the library in our community is high, and is only expected to grow in the future:
1.5 million items
circulate each year
1,150 visitors
per day
553 new library cards
net gain each month on average
20% increase in use
of eBooks and eAudiobooks over the last year
10,816 reservations
for meeting and study rooms
97% of patrons
said they would use the library with the same or more frequency in the next five years
The RHPL Board has a fiduciary obligation first, to the residents of Rochester Hills, to ensure proper funding of the library for long-range needs and second, to ensure each contract community is paying an equitable (not equal) amount for library services. If all municipalities paid equal millage rates, RHPL would in effect be operating like a district library, not as a city library, which it legally operates as under Public Act 164.
Contract services for Rochester Hills Public Library are paid for out of a general fund for the City of Rochester, and through three voter-approved millages in Oakland Township. New contracts for service were approved by both communities in 2025.
Why do the three service communities pay different amounts?
How are contract communities represented on the RHPL Board?
RHPL is not a district library, it legally operates as a city library under Public Act 164.
The library is legally owned by the RHPL Board of Trustees, which has a base of taxation and governance derived from the citizens of Rochester Hills. It is independent from the Rochester Hills City Council and is not a department of the City of Rochester Hills.
As a city library, communities outside of the voting base can contract with the library, enjoy a lesser millage rate, and still receive uniform library services, but legally cannot seat a voting representative on the board. If RHPL were to operate as a district library, which would allow for a voting member from each community, it would require that the same millage rate be applied uniformly across each municipality in the service area.
Each contract community appoints a liaison to serve alongside the elected RHPL board. Liaisons are seated at the table in each meeting, serve on committees, and are expected to help guide and shape the direction of the library.
What changes can have been made with the new funding?
-
An increased budget for new materials (over $1M annually) with a renewed focus on more eMaterials and shorter wait times for popular materials
-
Sunday hours year-round
-
Upgrades to the existing fleet of bookmobiles to serve individuals in our 70-square-mile service area and preschool students in local schools, including a new early literacy mobile
-
More storytimes and programming sessions
-
Updates to furnishings and fixtures in Adult Services, including tables, chairs, seating, study carrels, lighting, and electrical outlets
-
Modular furnishings and new technology in conference rooms and the Quiet Study area
Further plans are housed in RHPL's strategic plan, which is updated annually and helps guide the direction and adoption of new programs and services. Projects, plans, and ideas are collected and developed to effectively and efficiently use taxpayer funds to expand library offerings.
