Date: Fri 23-Jan-1998

By STEVE BIGHAM

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

Booth-library-operating-costs

Full Text:

Library's Higher Profile Brings Higher Operating Costs

BY STEVE BIGHAM

The trustees at the Cyrenius H. Booth Library say the taxpayers should not be

surprised at the additional $230,000 they have requested in this year's town

budget.

After all, they say, the library has tripled in size now that the $4.1 million

project is complete. General maintenance of the building has gotten more

expensive, as have heating and HVAC costs. Salaries are up, too.

"It shouldn't be a surprise to anyone that the costs are significantly

greater," explained trustee Jim Larin. "Most of the added costs are fixed. A

bigger building means bigger bills."

All told, the library's request for the 1998-99 budget is nearly $600,000,

almost double what it was two years ago. The figure is the largest request

ever made by the library. A year ago, the council was reluctant to approve the

library's request for an additional $66,000, but approved the figure after an

emotional public hearing, which saw library supporters plead for the added

funding.

The library also receives funds from the Mary Hawley Trust and raises money

from its annual Labor Day book sale.

In 1994, before the referendum approving the library expansion project, the

library submitted a financial impact statement to the town's finance director.

In it, the trustees reported what effect the addition's increased operating

costs would have on the annual town budget. Those projections have turned out

to be much lower than the actual costs. Utilities costs are higher than those

predicted by architects, including electricity, which is expected to cost an

extra $32,000 annually. The building also has additional computers and central

air conditioning for the first time, adding to the costs.

"We thought the impact would be much lower," explained Library Director Janet

Woycik.

It seems that library neighbor and opponent of the project, Edwin Baumer, was

not that far off when he proclaimed at a 1995 town meeting that there would be

an increase of $500,000 in operating and debt costs if the library project was

approved.

At that time, library officials were saying the extra operating costs would be

more in the ball park of $50,000 per year.

Despite the high costs, members of the Library Board of Trustees are quick to

remind people that the Cyrenius Booth Library ranks well below the state

average in annual costs to the town. They say the library raises more money

each year to support itself than any other town in the area.

Mr Larin said the Mary Hawley Trust Fund is yielding less money these days

because of the shrinking interest rates brought on by the rallying bond

market. This year, interest from the trust has only brought in about $14,000

so far.

The Board of Selectmen will be taking up the library's request at an upcoming

budget meeting. First Selectman Herb Rosenthal said the request does seem

high, but declined to pass judgment on the quarter million dollar increase

until after he hears from library officials.

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Well that is some spin. The Democrats have a super majority on the LC and passed the Education Budget without serious consideration of if the voters could afford the multi million dollar increase. "Was the request justified?" rather than "is this needed?" and "can the voters shoulder yet another large increase?" The voters rightly sent it back. Then for some reason all the discussion around reductions to the increase seemed to be coming from the classroom, rather than administration and overhead costs. Is this a coercive tactic to manipulate parents into supporting the budget like tacit threat of cutting freshman sports was two years ago? Who believes the Democrats did not caucus privately before the meeting and came in with a number already worked out? This is the Dems budget, they own it.

Education Cuts: Who Voted For What

I think it is important that we do not villainize every black box seen around a home, business, farm, or municipal property. A black exterior station does not always mean rat poison is being used. These stations can hold a number of different products, including monitoring blocks, snap traps, non-toxic bait, anti-tick bait stations, organic salt- or cornmeal-based control products, and newer fertility-control approaches intended to reduce rodent populations without traditional poisons. The better conversation, in my opinion, is not simply “black boxes are bad,” but rather: what is inside them, who is maintaining them, and whether the rodent issue is being managed responsibly. Exclusion, sanitation, trapping, habitat reduction, and careful monitoring should all be part of a responsible IPM strategy. To be fair, on my own property I do use rodenticides, including Bromethalin and Bromadiolone, in secured bait stations. But that is a choice I make for my property, based on my circumstances and the risk I am trying to manage. I also believe property owners should understand the tradeoffs and be encouraged to use the least harmful effective method whenever possible. I support protecting Newtown’s wildlife. I also support giving residents accurate information and not assuming that every black box represents reckless or unsafe pest control. The goal should be responsible rodent management, not fear of the box itself.

Discusses Policy Against Rodenticides

Debora, thank you! I accidentally doubled the project prices by adding the bond to the appropriation. Thank you so much for catching that and pointing it out. With the corrected numbers, the voters approved a combined $1.32 million for a salt shed ($600k) and library pavement ($720k), while rejecting the $1.12 million replacement turf. Regarding the 80s, I truly respect the hurdle of 14% mortgage rates. My point is simply that the math has shifted: in 1980, while the rates were higher, the price of a home relative to earnings was significantly lower. We are facing a different, but equally crushing, financial wall. Ultimately, it is disheartening that voters who recognized safe sidewalks and parking lots as essential, dismissed a playing field in the exact same condition. The turf has passed its life cycle and is just as much of a liability as the library’s pavement, the only difference is that this safety concern affects thousands of children who, coincidentally, cannot vote. These are apples-to-apples needs. I was hopeful our community would agree that all Newtown residents deserve safe conditions, regardless of which facility they utilize. Again, I would be remiss not to mention that when 82% of residents don’t show up, we have to deal with the interests of those who did. Hopefully, the next referendum will have a bigger turnout.

The ‘Me’ Generation

Thanks for the reply. I meant the numbers you presented in your letter. I found one place where other numbers were listed: https://www.newtownbee.com/04232026/get-out-and-vote-on-the-2026-27-proposed-municipal-and-school-budgets/?q=\\\%22advisory%20questions\\\%22. In that article, the numbers were cited as: Treadwell field: $1,125,000 Library: $720,000 Salt Storage: $600,000 As one who started out in the early 80's when inflation was double digits, my 1985 mortgage rate was 14%, and child care costs were comparable (in present value), I shared your grief but never considered the voters ironic or shameful. PS. I agree college tuition is ridiculous. Thankfully, universities are offering (or considering) waiving all or most tuition for middle class families (upwards of $200,000 incomes). Hopefully, they'll also reconsider their need for those funds in the first place.

Sure! Child care costs: https://www.ffyf.org/2022/10/13/data-child-care-prices-continue-to-rise-ahead-of-midterm-elections-outpacing-inflation/ (also from 2021-2025 we had 2 children in a local daycare in Newtown and it cost us $3200 a month, so that's a number I am very familiar with) Home price / median price vs income source: https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/home-price-income-ratios Tuition increase vs inflation: https://feed.georgetown.edu/access-affordability/noting-a-decline-in-middle-class-students-colleges-provide-more-aid/ Hope this helps :)

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Date: Fri 23-Jan-1998

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