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February 13, 2009

Editorial

Hopewell Valley News, Feb. 11, 2009

The New Jersey State League of Municipalities wants to change how we fund our public libraries.

The organization is pushing legislation that would cut in half the amount of funding that towns are required to provide to their municipal public libraries — legislation that could leave too many libraries facing revenue shortfalls at a time when their costs are increasing.

The league is responding to difficulties that many smaller municipalities had been facing as property values skyrocketed over the last decade. Library funding is tied to property value: Municipal public libraries, those created by referenda and funded through local property taxes, receive a minimum of 33 cents on every $100,000 of equalized assessed property value; funding increases are capped at 15 percent.

At the same time, the growing anger over rising property taxes has put pressure on municipal governing bodies and the state to find ways to rein in tax bills. Towns have cut some spending, used up their surpluses and sought new revenues, but library spending has been off limits — even with a state-imposed 4 percent cap on tax levies.

Municipal officials around the state call the funding formula unfair and say they should have the same discretion when dealing with requests from the library as they do with other departments. Library spending, they say, is eating into other programs, forcing cuts in planning and zoning, trash collection, public works and police.
* These are legitimate concerns. However, we believe the league’s proposed fix will only create new problems, allowing towns to cut library spending to a level that hampers library operation — especially with property values declining in many areas of the state.

While libraries in towns like Princeton, Monroe and South Brunswick are well funded, spending well above the state per-capita average, others such as Jamesburg, Lambertville and Manville spend as little as 60 percent to 80 percent of the state per-capita average. Smaller communities and the state’s large cities and working class suburbs are facing the most severe budget woes and it is likely that library spending would be cut if the state allowed.

Jamesburg already has sought voter approval to shut its library — a referendum that failed — because of budget constraints.

These smaller towns obviously face difficult budget decisions, providing another argument for consolidating services (joint or county libraries) or entire municipalities. The state needs to create financial incentives to encourage smaller communities to join county library systems in the 14 counties where they currently operate, which would have the side benefit of expanding library services, or to join with neighboring communities in joint library arrangements.

Failing this, however, it is clear that changes need to be made in how libraries get their money. The Legislature should consider tying funding to population or creating a separate line on municipal tax bills for library services, removing library spending from the municipal budget altogether.

The difficulties faced by municipal governments are real, but so are the concerns raised by library officials. A more creative solution has to be put on the table than just slashing library budgets.

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Posted by tumulty at February 13, 2009 8:12 AM

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