(Deerfield, MA) Deerfield’s Tilton Library renovation project has secured almost $500,000 in state funding for pandemic-related cost increases. Support from Senator Jo Comerford and Representative Natalie Blais helped make this funding and completing the project on schedule possible. The request for the additional funds was approved by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners on June 1st.

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04/04/2023 The Tilton Library renovation and expansion project is continuing to make progress. Recently, The town of Deerfield has signed a contract with the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners in order to accept the first of five payments of their $4 million grant. The Tilton Fund has also begun their private fundraising campaign and has raised $788,000 of their $2 million goal.

The Library Building Committee is working with an architect and project manager to make design decisions and will be submitted recommendations to the Library Trustees to approve. A public forum is in the works for this spring for residents to see a revised design, ask questions, and give feedback.

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01/31/2023 The Tilton Library renovation and expansion project is moving forward following the securement of funding in a town vote on December 6th, 2022. The project is currently in the design and planning phase, aiming to go to bid by November of this year and be complete by spring 2025.

Before the bidding process, the public will have an opportunity to view the design and provide feedback in the coming months. It is also around the time of bidding that the library will need to move to a temporary location. Possible locations discussed by the Tilton Library Building Committee include the Tree House Brewing Company’s offices, classrooms at Deerfield Academy, available spaces in Historic Deerfield, and others.

The budget for the project is estimated to cost around $12.3 million, up $4.3 million from the initial estimate due to rising costs. The library secured a grant from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners for half of the initial cost, $4 million. The Deerfield Selectboard wrote to Governor Baker asking for ARPA funds to cover the additional $4.3 million from cost increases. The Tilton Fund has also raised approximately $778,000 (of the $2 million goal). Community Preservation Act funds may be available up to $1 million.

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Update 12/07/22 Deerfield residents came out to the polls Tuesday to vote on a debt exclusion for the $12.3 million Tilton Library expansion project. The vote passed with 909 in support of funding the library out of the 1616 residents who voted. With this approval, the town will be able to utilize the $4 million state grant from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners. 

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Update 12/05/22 The residents of Deerfield will be heading back to the polls Tuesday for a special town election. They will be voting on one question; a debt exclusion to fund the Tilton Library renovations.

Tuesday’s vote will be the final step in approving funding for the project after the special town meeting in October where residents approved the appropriation of $12.3 million for the project. This amount includes a $4 million state grant from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners that must be matched by the town by January, unless an extension is granted.

Residents can vote in-person at the Town Hall at 8 Conway Street in Deerfield or by mail. Vote-by-mail ballots must be postmarked by December 6th or returned to the Town Clerk’s office by 8 p.m. on Tuesday. Find more information on the election on the Deerfield town website.

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On Monday at Deerfield’s special town meeting, residents voted with a majority of over two thirds in support of the Tilton Library expansion project. This vote supports the appropriation of $12.3 million in funding for construction, renovation, and expansion costs.

The $12.3 million represents the estimated total cost of the project, but the town’s burden can be reduced through grants and other funding sources. So far, the town has received a near $4 million grant from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners for this project and Friends of Tilton have committed to raising $2 million in donations. These, along with other funding sources have reduced the town’s burden to $6.3 million.

What funds the town has to borrow will be exempt from Proposition 2 1/2, “any tax increases to pay off this debt will be in addition to the statutorily allowed 2 1/2 percent increase in property tax revenues from year to year.”