Budget Ax Puts Libraries In Bind

By JULIA FERRANTE The Tampa Tribune

Published: Sep 1, 2007

NEW PORT RICHEY - Filling out tax forms, applying for unemployment benefits, picking up a DVD for entertainment: Today's library patrons are doing much more than borrowing books and stopping in for story hour.

At the same time, state-mandated tax cuts and dwindling funds are putting those services at risk, Pasco County officials say. Perks residents take for granted soon may come at a cost - or disappear - and the "free" library system is no exception.

As county officials look to reduce spending and comply with a 3 percent property tax revenue cut, they also are facing reductions in state funding for libraries, said Dan Johnson, assistant county administrator for public services.

Officials are considering whether it would make sense to forgo state funding in lieu of a fee-based system, which would charge those who use libraries, much like a business.

"It's just coming to that. If you're using it, you're going to have to pay for it," county Libraries Director Linda Allen said. "Your free public library is not going to be so free."

The state contribution for Pasco libraries in the coming fiscal year will be $50,412 lower than the current year, after reductions during the past several years. The county used to get about 10 cents of state reimbursement for each dollar spent, Allen said. Now it's more like 4 cents per dollar, and there is pending legislation to decrease the amount again. The libraries' budget this year is $8.2 million. Another $1.8 million is set aside for unanticipated repairs and upgrades to buildings and facilities. The county's overall budget is $1.2 billion.

The fiscal constraints could get worse in January if voters adopt a homestead "superexemption" that would give full-time residents bigger tax breaks upfront, officials say.

Pasco's director of Management and Budget, Michael Nurrenbrock, has estimated the county could lose another $25 million of its $161 million in property tax revenue if the super exemption is adopted. Potential losses depend on how many opt for the higher exemptions over current Save Our Homes assessment limits.

"If it goes that way in January, it is a possibility we will close the entire system," Allen said. "There's just no way. There's no way I can make up $8 million in fees."

The sheriff's office and emergency services departments are the biggest property tax consumers. Those agencies are not easily supported by fees, Nurrenbrock said.

Other services paid for with property taxes include the seven branch libraries, parks, veterans services, elderly nutrition, animal services, social services, the cooperative extension, sexual assault victim examinations and public transportation, said Johnson, who oversees the programs.

State and federal grants offset the costs, but if the county does not have enough money to match the grants, the programs could disappear.

"If services are not paying for themselves, we may have to get rid of them," Johnson said.

Weighing The Losses

Counties must comply with certain restrictions to be eligible for state library aid, Allen said. Namely, library cards must be free, and books, CDs, DVDs and other materials must be available for loan at no charge. Reference services must be provided. At least one library must be open 40 hours per week, and one employee has to have a master's degree in library science.

The county may charge for use of meeting rooms, special programs or story hours while still receiving state aid, Allen said. Late fees can be assessed and increased.

"We're going to take a look and see if it is practical to maintain free library service when dollars have been dwindling," Johnson said. "Maybe it would be more practical to charge for a library card."

If the library system charges for use of books and DVDs, officials could not apply for state or federal grants, Allen said. That includes seeking reimbursement for Internet access, which comes in at about $25,900 - or 60 percent of the cost.

Officials also would want to be careful not to duplicate services offered by businesses such as Borders and Blockbuster, Johnson said. The materials the library offers generally are educational or classics, but some are current. Officials also would have to devise a way to collect fees.

Allen is working on a two-year technology plan and a service plan, with or without potential superexemption losses. Possibilities under the superexemption scenario include closing libraries, reducing hours and eliminating staff by attrition.

"In looking at it, we're just very, very close to not being able to offer services," she said. "We may be getting back to just our core of circulating books. We foresee cutting hours and closing locations."

More Than Just Books

Closing libraries would mean more than the loss of a place to read, do research or borrow books. It also would mean losing a place where some apply for social service help, Johnson said. Since the Department of Children & Families closed its Dade City office, for instance, many clients have turned to libraries to access forms online.

Librarians often are called upon to help residents complete social service documents, which is complicated and presents privacy issues, Allen said. The library computers also have a 30-minute use limit, so if a person is unable to complete a task in the allotted time, they are kicked off the computer.

"We had a person come in yesterday trying to apply for unemployment, and you can't do it in 30 minutes," Allen said. "We still have people trying to get help from FEMA [for storm damage in 2004]. Any of those kinds of things like that - they start out, and they don't even know how to use a computer. We're all they've got."

The libraries also have become a major distributor of tax forms, which used to be available at post offices.

"It's very concerning that the people who need our services the most are not going to be able to get them," Allen said.

Concert Series May Get Ax

If the county charges for library cards and checking out books, officials will not make exceptions, Allen said. If county officials did offer free library cards to those who could not afford them, they would have to verify financial status, which the county may not be able to afford.

Allen already has made cuts to the upcoming budget to comply with the state-mandated reduction. A popular Sunday concert series, scheduled for the fall and winter, is on the chopping block for a savings of $10,000. The Friends of the Library supplemented the program with about $3,000, and patrons paid a $2 charge.

"Impromptu," a popular program at which students perform on a donated piano Thursday nights at the Hudson branch library, also is slated to be canceled.

Subscriptions to out-of-town newspapers, such as the Chicago Tribune and The Miami Herald, are to be canceled. Only The New York Times' Sunday edition will be available at Pasco libraries, along with The Tampa Tribune and the St. Petersburg Times.

"Leased" materials, including high-demand books on CD and bestsellers, have been cut back, Allen said. Leased audiobooks and paperback bestsellers, some of which are not available in hardcover, will be eliminated.

Efforts to diversify the collection with a broad base of books and other materials will end, and only the most popular books will be available. Patron requests will not be honored for lower-demand items.

If the superexemption passes, "everything is on the line," Johnson said.

Reporter Julia Ferrante can be reached at (813) 948-4220 or jferrante@tampatrib.com.