Mayor: Give Library Minimum Funding

Library officials were surprised to find themselves on the agenda for City Council budget review Wednesday, but then faced a bigger surprise when told Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs wanted to reduce their budget by 40 percent to the legal minimum.

The amount allocated to the Plainfield Public Library in the introduced budget is $1,556,338. But after Library Director Joseph Da Rold and Board of Trustees President Anne Robinson pitched for a $66,000 increase, budget consultant David Kochel said the city was only required under a state formula to give the library $926,517.

After explaining that city finances were adversely affected by successful tax appeals and a declining ratable base, Kochel said the $1.55 million was “68 percent more” than the amount the city was mandated to pay for the library.

“Are you saying to us that the library budget be cut by almost 50 percent?” Council President Adrian Mapp asked Kochel.

 “The mayor’s position is that we need to have some degree of austerity,” Kochel said.

Although Da Rold said the library was providing increased services to the community with just 19 full-time staffers, Kochel said when part-timers were added, the library actually had the equivalent of 25 full-timers. Dividing library hours by 25 indicated a total of 13 people on the payroll every hour the library is open, an “extraordinary staffing level,” Kochel said.

Robinson called the proposed reduction “unprecedented” and said the library had never received just the 1/3 mil minimum. (The amount is calculated by multiplying the equalized valuation of  property by .000333333.)

Kochel and Robinson sparred a bit over responsibilities, with Kochel claiming the library had not given the city an audit report and an annual report. Robinson said audits cost $25,000 and the library tried to save money by alternating full audits with reviews. The library did send an annual report to the city, she said.

Councilwoman Rebecca Williams reminded Kochel that the budget at hand had come from the mayor and that it was now the governing body’s budget. She called the library’s request for additional funds “reasonable, given the importance of the library” and said it was “actually saving residents a great deal of money.”

Da Rold had begun the discussion by citing an increase in circulation of children’s books from 8,000 to 11,000 since the new Children’s Room opened. He also mentioned the library’s assistance to job seekers, its literacy program and its GED program. All these and more would be harmed by curtailed hours if funds were cut, he said.

Robinson said the library has 21 computers for public use and will be adding 12 more. Citing the “digital divide” that exists for those without computers, Robinson said, “It is a screaming need that we see every day.”

Given the short notice to appear and the mayor’s new stance on only providing the minimum funding, Councilman William Reid suggested that the library officials meet with the administration to discuss it and then to revisit the council at the May 10 budget session.

But Williams said, “This budget has been given to us – this is what the administration wants,” referring to the $1.55 million in the introduced budget.

After appearing on short notice, Da Rold and Robinson waited half an hour for the meeting to start and then spent about an hour in discussion before the inconclusive ending. Robinson took leave on a gracious note, inviting the council and budget committee to stop by Friday and see the new cherry trees being planted at the library.

The council also heard from the divisions of Public Works, Inspections and Recreation and reviewed the budget for the mayor’s office and the city administrator’s office Wednesday. Tonight (Thursday, April 26) the council will review budget requests for Planning & Economic Development, Community Development and Municipal Court. The meeting is 7 p.m. in City Hall Library.

(Disclaimer: My son has a 15-hour a week, minimum wage job at the library.)

--Bernice