The board voted July 15 to send a letter to the Common Council advocating in favor of the options that would entail construction of a new library on the southwest corner of North and Wauwatosa avenues.
The city anticipates a portion of the cost will be offset by grants and private fundraising. It would not require a voter referendum to move forward, because of how the debt would be financed over 20 years.
Updates to City Hall and the Civic Center and an expansion of Wauwatosa Public Library have been discussed for years, but construction likely wouldn't start any earlier than 2028.
The final scope and details of such a project remain uncertain, particularly given the potential cost. Several council members acknowledged that the project might be a tough sell for some taxpayers.
