Independence for Library Funding

An article in today’s Poughkeepsie Journal reported that the Supervisor of the Town of LaGrange opposes the proposition on the Town ballot that would increase LaGrange Library funding by 17%. This sounds like a lot until you learn that because of a low base tax, the total increase would impact the average household by just $14.21 a year, less than the cost of a quality paperback book. Another way of viewing the increase is also telling. In 2008, when library-funding support from the Town was completely at the Town Board’s discretion, the amount was frozen at $599,280, so there has been no increase in 2009 or 2010. Through the magic of compound interest, an increase of just 5.3% a year since 2008 would be equivalent to the 17% increase proposed for 2011 over 2010. The Town itself is proposing a budget for 2011 that would result in a total tax of $736.44 on a $323,000 home, so the proposed tax on a typical home with the Library increase would amount to $750.55.

Town Boards or Town Supervisors often oppose increases in library funding through direct approval by voters, which for free-association libraries in New York State is known as Chapter 414 funding. I do not think that this is always because they are opposed to libraries—although in some cases, the Board or the Supervisor clearly is—but more because they feel that they should control every aspect of the Town budget, rather than have voters in charge. I don’t have all the facts and figures to prove it, but my impression is that when local government is in charge of library budgets, for example in larger cities, library services are among the first to be cut when there is any economic downturn. Branches are closed and staff and open-hours are reduced. But when the voters are given a direct choice, they nearly always approve modest increases in library funds that permit maintenance or even improvement of library services.

The Pleasant Valley Free Library also is taking its case to the voters for a modest increase in funding so that current staff and services can be maintained in the face of reduced funding from the state and country and increased costs. The proposed increase in funding is from $265,000 to $360,000. Since this would be the first increase in four years, it is equivalent to an 6.3% increase each year over the base from 2007 to 2011, but because the Library commits to maintaining the same level of Town funding for at least another three years, by 2014 the rate of increase from 2007 will be just 4.5%, not much higher than the general rate of inflation and comparable to the rate of library-cost inflation. I expect the voters of Pleasant Valley to view this as a reasonable way to maintain their Library and that the proposition, which will come before voters on November 2, will be approved. My hope would be that the voters in LaGrange will also want to continue their own library services with a vote in favor of library funding.