Politics
Broadmeadows Measure R: New Library and Recreation Levies Begin January 2027
If approved on August 4, residents who own property or use the Oak Street library and centers on Elm Avenue and Maple Drive will see the first levy collections on 2027 tax statements and phased facility work completed by 2028.
How we reported this
The Broadmeadows referendum on August 4, 2026, places Measure R before voters to authorize a three-year property tax levy of 2.5 mills dedicated to repairs at the main library on Oak Street and the recreation centers on Elm Avenue and Maple Drive. The measure applies to all property owners within city limits and to users of those facilities.
City records show the 2025 facilities assessment identified $8.2 million in deferred maintenance across the three sites, prompting the council to seek dedicated revenue rather than draw from the general fund.
Property owners would see the new levy line on their annual tax statements beginning with the January 2027 billing cycle. Library users could gain extended evening hours at the Oak Street branch once roof and HVAC work finishes, while the Elm Avenue and Maple Drive centers would add two youth sports leagues funded directly by the levy collections.
Timeline for Local Impacts
The official voter pamphlet from the Broadmeadows Elections Office states that the first tax collections occur in January 2027. Construction bids for the library roof replacement are scheduled for award by March 2027, with completion targeted before the 2028 school year for families in the surrounding neighborhoods.
The fiscal impact statement attached to Measure R projects $2.1 million in revenue during the first year, covering 40 percent of the identified repair backlog. Renters and non-property users would face no direct tax increase but would encounter the service changes once projects reach completion.
If the measure passes, the 2027 property tax statements mailed in December 2026 will include the levy amount. Rejection would leave the facilities assessment report indicating that routine maintenance budgets alone would postpone the same work until at least 2030.