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Stable Funding. Thriving Communities. Becoming a Special Legislative District Public Library

Stable Funding. Thriving Communities

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Stable Funding. Thriving Communities. Becoming a Special Legislative District Public Library. Just a few facts to start. Buffalo & Erie County Public Library (B&ECPL) is chartered as a municipal library Funded through Erie County property tax - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Page 1: Stable Funding. Thriving Communities

Stable Funding.Thriving Communities.

Becoming a Special Legislative District Public Library

Page 2: Stable Funding. Thriving Communities

Just a few facts to start

• Buffalo & Erie County Public Library (B&ECPL) is chartered as a municipal library– Funded through Erie County property tax

– Appointed Board of Trustees (County Executive, County Legislature, City of Buffalo Mayor)

• Operates separately from the County

• Board of Trustees makes all policy decisions

Page 3: Stable Funding. Thriving Communities

Just a few facts to start

• B&ECPL also serves as Erie County’s library system

• Provides essential library programs, collection support and services to its 22 contracting libraries as well as the Central library and the eight branches in the City of Buffalo

Page 4: Stable Funding. Thriving Communities

Who we are

• 37 venues– Central Library– 8 Buffalo

branches– 22 Contracting

Libraries• Operating 28

locations

• All are municipal except for association libraries

– Ewell Free (Alden)– Boston– Marilla

Page 5: Stable Funding. Thriving Communities

Value of What We Provide

Service Amount Value

Materials Borrowed 8,097,152 $85,343,982

Computer Use 860,530 hours $10,326,360

Online Database Searches 2,908,755 $43,631,325

Reference Questions & Inter-Library Loans

470,563 $7,058,000

Adult and Children’sProgram Attendance

138,407 $1,036,668

Total Retail Value $147,396,780

For every property tax dollar invested in the Library in 2010, Erie County received $6.65 back in library program and services.

Page 6: Stable Funding. Thriving Communities

Value of What We Provide

• All for about 1% of a total tax bill

Page 7: Stable Funding. Thriving Communities

County Funding History

Page 8: Stable Funding. Thriving Communities

County Funding History

• 2005 Budget Crisis– 15 libraries and 4 mobile units closed– Lost over 100 FTEs– Drastically reduced services

• 2008 Economic Downturn– Leads to increased use– $1.6M restored

• 2009– $1.6M cut

• 2010– $750,000 restoration not provided

Page 9: Stable Funding. Thriving Communities

County Funding History

• 2011– Cut $4M– One time restoration by County Legislature of

$3M– $21.2M total County funding– Used $2.6M of fund balance– Reduced hours – Cut 47 jobs to balance budget

Page 10: Stable Funding. Thriving Communities

2012 Budget

• $19.9M from Erie County property tax

• $2M from County general fund balance

• $21.9M total County funding

Page 11: Stable Funding. Thriving Communities

The Need For Stable Funding

• The B&ECPL has been on the downside of the County funding roller coaster for some time

• We compete with other financial priorities within the County

• With the 2% tax cap, the Library’s funding position within the County is even more questionable

Page 12: Stable Funding. Thriving Communities

The Need for Stable Funding

• After 2010 funding issues, B&ECPL asked the UB Regional Institute to study various governance options

• Book Smart lays out the system and funding options

• Institute indicates that B&ECPL pursue becoming a special legislative district public library is most logical option

Page 13: Stable Funding. Thriving Communities

The Need for Stable Funding• The Library System Board has been exploring

funding and governance options since 2005• NYS Board of Regents has formally adopted the

formation of Public Library Districts as part of its statewide library policy

• A super majority of the ACT boards of trustees voted in favor of moving forward

• September 15, 2011 the B&ECPL Board of Trustees voted to pursue becoming a special legislative district public library

Page 14: Stable Funding. Thriving Communities

What is a Special Legislative District Public Library?

• It is one of two library funding district options in New York State– Other: School District Public Library

• Obtains a substantial amount (60% or higher) of its funding through a direct public vote

• Has a Board of Trustees that is publicly elected by eligible voters within the library’s service area

• Created through an act of the NYS Legislature and subsequent public vote

Page 15: Stable Funding. Thriving Communities

Benefits of a SPDPL

• Predictable funding stream• Live within its own 2% tax cap

– Can ask the public for increased funding each year; Voters say yes or no

– County Tax Cap lowered by amount of function transferred to new district

• Potential to bond for capital projects • Increases the library’s

– Autonomy– Accountability– Community ownership

Page 16: Stable Funding. Thriving Communities

The B&ECPL As a District Library

• Create one Library District for all of Erie County• All the existing libraries would come under one

new library charter• 23 hiring authorities would be consolidated to 1• Maximize economies of scale and continue to

provide a great public service return on investment

Page 17: Stable Funding. Thriving Communities

The B&ECPL As a District Library

• Enabling legislation sponsored by members from Erie County state delegation

• Details local election to establish and fund the new entity– Specifies service area and election process

• County would collect community-based funding

• Trustees would be elected

Page 18: Stable Funding. Thriving Communities

The B&ECPL As a District Library

• System board and individual boards have been working together cooperatively to create memoranda of understanding that will be the basis for the new library’s policies and procedures

Page 19: Stable Funding. Thriving Communities

MOU Considerations

• Individual library boards can transition to Advisory Boards.

• Among their responsibilities will be: – Represent the interests of their local community regarding

library programs and services by communicating directly with the new elected Board of Trustees

– Review and make recommendations regarding the district’s proposed annual budget

– Interview potential library director/manager candidates and provide a recommendation to the SLDPL’s Board of Trustees

Page 20: Stable Funding. Thriving Communities

MOU Considerations

– Be key a key component in the decision making process recommending the use of donated funds or personal property formerly owned by their specific library before the establishment of the special district.

– Attend meetings of the Library District’s Board of Trustees.

– Implement planning, fundraising and community relations activities

– Participation in SLDPL’s sub-committees

Page 21: Stable Funding. Thriving Communities

The B&ECPL As a District Library

• Continue to meet with local elected officials– County Executive– County Legislature– Town Supervisors– Village Mayors

• Under a SLDPL, local municipal responsibility would continue as it is now (still own building)

Page 22: Stable Funding. Thriving Communities

The B&ECPL As a District Library

• To facilitate the process, we will work with• Local and county officials• County Board of Elections• State delegation• New York Library Association• Division of Library Development out of State Ed• NY State Board of Regents• Other state offices as appropriate

Page 23: Stable Funding. Thriving Communities

The B&ECPL As a District Library

• After a bill passes and is signed by the Governor– Election is scheduled to create district, elect

trustees and approve initial budget

• Trustee candidates must petition

• Hold the vote

Page 24: Stable Funding. Thriving Communities

The B&ECPL As a District Library

• If the voters say yes, trustees take office and apply for charter

• Dissolve old library and transfer assets

• County collects taxes for new library as approved by voters

• Funding remains the same until board places new budget before voters

Page 25: Stable Funding. Thriving Communities

Tentative Timeline for Special Legislative District Public Library• 24 month timeline culminating with a

November 2013 voteSystem Board of Trustees voted to pursue Library District after support from ACT Boards

9/15/11

Reach out to stakeholders, municipal/community leaders for support

On-going Until 11/13 vote

Legislative outreach, draft legislation 6-8 months

On-going until bill is introduced

Page 26: Stable Funding. Thriving Communities

Tentative Timeline for Special Legislative District Public Library

Development of Memoranda of Understanding with ACT libraries

On-going Until 1/13

Education/advocacy campaigns 24 months Until 11/13

Bill passed and signed into law 3 months Based on session calendar

Election held to create district 1 Day 11/13

Page 27: Stable Funding. Thriving Communities

Questions?