RM of Hanover increases library rebate, cancels grant to library

The RM of Hanover will be giving a greater rebate to people who get a library membership with the Jake Epp Library but it will also discontinue funding to the library.

The RM will now give a $55 rebate to rural residents on their property taxes or a cheque if they are renting. Prior to this the RM was reimbursing $30 to residents. The cost for a library card is $110 for residents who live outside of Steinbach.

“For 2024, the total sent to the library was $14,410. In the last few years, the City of Steinbach and the Jake Epp Library have been pressuring Hanover to contribute significantly more in the form of an annual per-capita grant,” stated chief financial officer Derek Decru in an email. “Late in December, the library communicated to us that they would no longer be administering the rebate.”

To provide the rebate, residents will be taxed but the increase is unknown at this time as the RM is currently working on its budget.

The RM estimates there will be 400 memberships this year totaling $22,000 in expenses for the municipality.

Another measure with the changes is that the RM will no longer give a grant to the library. In 2024, the RM gave a $2,500 grant to cover the library’s administrative costs associated with providing the rebate.

“It’s unfortunate to have any funding pulled, however small, but we understand that circumstances change,” said interim library director Aubrey Walker.

To apply for the rebate, visit hanovermb.ca/p/jake-epp-library-rebate.