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September 3, 2008

No library question on Lambertville ballot

by Hunterdon County Democrat staff
Friday August 29, 2008, 10:29 AM
LAMBERTVILLE -- The city will get back $110,000 to $120,000 from its library, but the library board of trustees says such transfers won't be a regular occurrence.

But the money will prevent City Council from asking voters in November whether the city should join the county library system. The last time this was asked, voters said "no."

Lambertville has been in a bind because state law requires the city to base funding of its library on property assessments. Because the city budget is capped by the state, the growth of the library budget eats up the small overall increase so it cannot be shared by other departments.

The city's bill to fund the library this year is $256,207.

Part of the money given back represents funds that the city needs to repair the library, including a leaky roof and a cracked handicap ramp. So some of the $170,000 that the library board has saved for these repairs will now go back to the city.

But this is a one-time thing. According to Deborah Mercer, chairwoman of the library board, future repayments "won't be to the tune of $120,000" because most years the funding is "just enough to run the library."

Mayor David Del Vecchio pointed out that the city is not worried about "who runs the library," but with a $154,000 reduction in state aid. He is concerned about how to fiscally restructure the government so that it can function with the state's budget restrictions. The city has canceled "sparkle week," its annual curbside cleanup, as well as fall leaf collection to save money.

He added that it will be an ongoing process, and that the city could be in the same situation in the next year or two with a need for a referendum begging the voters to make the library part of the county system.

Posted by tumulty at September 3, 2008 12:00 PM

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