COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Columbus Metropolitan Library’s Board of Trustees voted to pause plans on a new branch on the northwest side of the city, due to funding uncertainty.

The library planned to build a new library on West Case Road across the street from the Ohio State University Airport on old farmland that the City of Columbus has been working to transform into a park and community green space.

Construction was scheduled to begin on the $24.5 million project next year.

The decision to pause funding comes amid state funding policy changes. This year’s state budget cut funding for libraries by $25 million.

CEO Lauren Hagan said the library is also concerned about property tax reform and how it could impact library funding.

“The conversations around property taxes are a bigger factor i

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