LIBRARIES: Funding budget concern

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by CranburyPress
”In Cranbury, the average (given to the library) is about $100 per household or 1 percent of taxes,” which is $572,604 this year, said Kirstie Venanzi, president of the Cranbury Library Board of Trustees.
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http://www.centraljersey.com/articles/2011/01/28/cranbury_press/news/doc4d41d71d8b9cd641197010.txt

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Can anyone from the library board share cost saving measures enacted since the economy dipped? EG, payroll policy, etc.

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Views on Cranbury library funding pretty much boil down to one question- stand alone library or not? If you support a stand alone library, then the library is underfunded. If you don't support a stand alone library, then it is not.

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The fact is that library funding is down about 7% over the past two years, plus fixed expenses are up and the public library is paying rent so I can see that they are concerned about budgets. However, from what I hear, the library board is adjusting their expenses and responding to the current cuts, like we all.
I thought it was an interesting article. What I find is amazing is how much our library usage has increased over the past few years.

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The fact is the 7% decline is on the heels of a nearly 50% increase as a result of the reassessment in '06. The library is squirreling away this windfall to help pay for a new stand alone building. If you believe the new building is a worthy cause, then you could argue the 7% decline is a budgetary concern, but if you don't, then you would have to wonder why an organization with tens of thousands of dollars in the bank is publicly expressing concerns about their budget.

[Guest]

$100/household is wrong, I estimate its closer to $403 per household on ave is socked away for the library in some bank account. ($572,604/1418=$403)

Source:Wikipedia at 2000 census, there were 3,227 people, 1,091 households given 30% growth rate lately I approx 1418 households will be counted in 2010 census.

Anyway a cranbury household can do a heck of a lot with $403/yr back into their pockets

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New Jersey law states that municipal public library receive a minimum funding, 1/3 of a mil of equalized property evaluation, or about 1% of our residential taxes. Most towns fund their libraries above and beyond this amount. This does not happen in Cranbury.

Also, we must remember that all "ratables" like the warehouses, and other businesses pay taxes. These ratables also pay taxes for our school, our municipal taxes, and county taxes.

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New Jersey state libraries has these figures.

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Most municipal libraries are above the minimum funding.

[URL Helper]

That link won't work -- try this one and then click on the PowerPoint presentation link:

http://www.njstatelib.org/LDB/Trustees/Library-Finance.php

[Guest]

My organization has experienced declining revenues over the past few years. I am interested in understanding how the library has reacted to the current economics of our world. Many people have had pay freezes (at best) or pay cuts, unpaid furloughs, etc. Office infrastructure that might be upgraded every 3-4 years is being kept for longer periods, etc. How has the library managed its finances (salaries, operating, etc.) over the past several years? No pointed question or underlying motive, I am just thoroughly confused about this issue because I see and hear conflicting views.

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• Library funding law has not changed in the last 20 months with the exception of clarifying when public libraries must give back money. Our library does not qualify to give back money.

• NJ law requires minimum funding for municipal libraries; 1/3 of a mil of equalized property valuation. This automatically fluctuates with the economy, thus the decrease in the funding.

• Our public library has experienced increased expenses: rent - $58,000.00 which they did not have prior to 2009, plus mandated NJ payroll expenses similar to the township re.PERS increases.

• The library budget for 2011: decreased spending on our programs. Luckily, the Friends of the Cranbury Public Library have stepped in to help with some of these expenses.

• Though the library does not like to cut some the budget for resources, they have had to cut the film license from our projected 2011 budget. They also have cut back in some of our books and resources budgets. These cuts were made to keep in line with the appropriation.

• Salaries are definitely under the microscope, and they do have an increase in expense here, but in most cases, it only covers the increased cost in health care that the employees now need to cover themselves. Most of the library employees are part-time and do not earn a tremendous amount of money. They employ three full-time librarians.

• Most of this information was shared at the Township Committee budget meeting on Saturday, January 22. Also Cranbury Public Library Board of Trustees meeting are public meetings.

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