Date: Fri 06-Feb-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: KAAREN

Quick Words:

Booth-Library-selectmen-budget

Full Text:

Selectmen Look For Cuts In Library Budget, But Don't Find Any

BY STEVE BIGHAM

The Board of Selectmen may have been intent on cutting some of the library's

budget requests at its meeting last Thursday night. However, when it was all

said and done, not a single cut was made.

Despite an increased request of more than a quarter million dollars, there was

not much to cut, the selectmen said. The total request of nearly $600,000 (a

29 percent increase) was made up mostly of salaries, books and utilities

brought on by the building's new addition, which added an additional 23,000

square feet to the building.

"We looked to see where we might be able to make some cuts, but the trustees

had justifications for all the increases," explained First Selectman Herb

Rosenthal.

Of course, the Legislative Council must still review the library's proposal.

As it stands now, the town will pay $600,000 of the library's total budget of

$760,000. That is more than 75 percent of it.

Believe it or not, the library's budget request did not even include any

capital items.

"This is a bare bones budget for us," said library board president Gordon

Williams. "It doesn't include capital expenditures. We are hoping to get

people to do things for us."

The library has several fundraisers currently under way in an effort to raise

funds for the necessary capital purchases. Its goal is to raise $200,000.

Last week, the selectmen searched and searched for something to cut in its

effort to keep costs down. To their dismay, they found nothing.

"I realize that you are struggling, but this is one of the largest increases

ever facing us," said Mr Rosenthal. "However, unless we go after books and

databases, there is really nothing to cut."

Nevertheless, the first selectman pointed out that the library does have an

unspecified amount of money in unrestricted funds at its disposal. He said it

was difficult to expect the taxpayers to foot such a large bill when the

library itself is sitting on funds.

"We're getting closer to the point where the town is paying for seven-eighths

of the library's operating budget," he said. "There may be some anxiety on the

part of the community if the library is holding money in restricted and

unrestricted funds. But I realize that if you do spend the money in these

(unrestricted) funds to pay operating expenses this year, there won't be any

revenue for future years."

Selectmen Joe Bojnowski said the significant increase was "a hard number to

swallow" since it was so different from the financial impact statement of four

years ago, which stated that the addition would add only an additional

$100,000 to the annual operating costs.

Trustees say they received inaccurate estimates on costs.

The Increases

According to James Larin, library trustee, the majority of the increase is

related to size of building. He said salaries increased from $381,000 to

$411,000, which includes the addition of two part-timers. Library Director

Janet Woycik pointed out that when the library only has one person on the

circulation desk, that person can't even leave to go to the bathroom.

"You need two people, that's why we are asking for the addition of two

part-timers," she said.

Library trustees said any cuts would only curtail the operation of the

library. "It is clear already that the library will get significantly more

patronage, significantly more demand for service, significantly more usage,"

Mr Larin said.

Take for example the children's story hour, which has room for only 80

children, but 300 actually signed up. The town wants not just a bigger

library, but a better library with better services, the trustees pointed out.

The revenue brought in by the Friends of the Library is likely to decrease

this year, which has added to the taxpayer's expense. Last year, the Labor Day

book sale brought in $18,500. However, this year the Friends will guarantee

only $5,000. Apparently, the sale has outgrown the library and cannot use the

library's back parking lot because of its sharp incline.

According to Mr Williams, the library will only receive about $30,000 in

interest from the Mary Hawley Trust Fund, about a quarter of what it was

hoping for. The money received from that trust is "totally out of the control

of the library," Mr Williams said. (See related story.)

Self Perpetuation

The library board is self-perpetuating, which means that it can appoint

members to 12 of the 18 seats. The Board of Selectmen appoints residents to

the remaining six seats. Why is this? According to Mr Larin, people tend to

support libraries because they have independent boards.

Trustees reminded the selectmen that the library costs Newtown less than other

towns pay for their libraries.

"This is the only year that there will be a large percentage increase like

this," Mrs Woycik promised.