Voters in Norwin, South Greensburg support library funding

Voters in the Norwin School District and Southwest Greensburg on Tuesday rejected efforts slash funding for their local libraries.

Norwin voters from North Huntingdon, Irwin and North Irwin overwhelmingly voted down a proposal to reduce the 1.2 mill tax rate by about 85%.

With all 32 precincts reporting, 64% of Norwin voters said “no” to referendum question that asked residents to slash the library tax by 1 mill. Vote totals are unofficial until certified by the Westmoreland County Board of Elections.

Supporters of the tax said the money was needed to ensure the library can continue to operate at current levels.

The library tax in Norwin provides about $501,000 in revenue, the bulk of the library’s $718,000 budget for 2022, officials said. The proposed cut in the referendum — to 0.2 mills — would slash the library’s revenue stream to about $82,000 annually, according to supporters.

Community members who backed cutting the tax claimed the levy was approved to pay for the library’s construction only, and that it is now on solid financial ground.

Voters who favored the tax reduction were asked to vote “yes.”

In Southwest Greensburg, voters were asked to rescind the 1 mill library tax that helps pay for operations at the Greensburg-Hempfield Area Library.

“No” votes, which kept the tax, won by 72 votes, or 54%, according to unofficial results.

Southwest Greensburg in 2017 approved the tax that raises about $15,000 annually for the library. Borough officials urged voters to eliminate the tax, saying the money it generated could be better used to pay for other community projects.

Voters in Hempfield, South Greensburg, New Stanton and Youngwood previously rejected the proposed levy.