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February 19, 2009

Herald News editorial: Library funding must be maintained

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Herald News
Public libraries have become more indispensable than ever. Local libraries, large and small, urban and suburban, serve everyone from latchkey kids to people who have lost their jobs. The latchkey children use the libraries as a safe place to do their homework. The unemployed, especially those without computers at home, use the libraries’ resources to search for work.

Nevertheless, if a bill moving through the Legislature is approved, library service could be severely diminished.

The General Assembly bill, sponsored by Assemblyman Vincent Prieto, D-Secaucus, has the backing of the powerful New Jersey League of Municipalities. The organization sees the legislation as a way to provide relief to taxpayers and to municipalities struggling to balance budgets during dire financial times. Under the legislation, the base funding formula for libraries, which stands at a third of a "mill" tax on every dollar of assessable property, would be cut in half to a sixth. A mill equates to a tenth of a cent. As it stands today, a house with a market value of $100,000 would pay $33 to support the local library. The League argues that the current formula is archaic and flawed: It fluctuates along with taxable properties. It is a process, League leadership argues, whereby "many municipalities are collecting monies in excess of the needs of their public library system."

Library advocates dispute that. They say the formula, which has been in place since 1937, is self-correcting, even efficient; it rises and falls with property values. Moreover, the advocates say, libraries provide essential services, especially in economically depressed times. No matter how you slice it, the public library remains a vital resource for all residents, regardless of class or income.

"Right now, we need strong communities," said Norma Blake, the state librarian. "And the one public entity that is going to preserve the quality of life for residents is the public library."

Still, it never fails that when budget cuts are looming, it is quality of life institutions such as libraries and public parks that always seem to take the first hit.

After all, Trenton powerbrokers usually aren’t the people who use and rely upon libraries and parks the most.

William Dressel, executive director of the League of Municipalities, says that he is all for libraries in principle, he just wants local municipalities to have greater flexibility in funding them. If this bill is passed, and this thinking is allowed to prevail, we can rest assured that some libraries in New Jersey will cut services and others will cut staff. Some might be forced to close altogether.

Consequently, the General Assembly bill should not pass.

Public libraries have become more indispensable than ever. Local libraries, large and small, urban and suburban, serve everyone from latchkey kids to people who have lost their jobs. The latchkey children use the libraries as a safe place to do their homework. The unemployed, especially those without computers at home, use the libraries’ resources to search for work.

Nevertheless, if a bill moving through the Legislature is approved, library service could be severely diminished.

The General Assembly bill, sponsored by Assemblyman Vincent Prieto, D-Secaucus, has the backing of the powerful New Jersey League of Municipalities. The organization sees the legislation as a way to provide relief to taxpayers and to municipalities struggling to balance budgets during dire financial times. Under the legislation, the base funding formula for libraries, which stands at a third of a "mill" tax on every dollar of assessable property, would be cut in half to a sixth. A mill equates to a tenth of a cent. As it stands today, a house with a market value of $100,000 would pay $33 to support the local library. The League argues that the current formula is archaic and flawed: It fluctuates along with taxable properties. It is a process, League leadership argues, whereby "many municipalities are collecting monies in excess of the needs of their public library system."

Library advocates dispute that. They say the formula, which has been in place since 1937, is self-correcting, even efficient; it rises and falls with property values. Moreover, the advocates say, libraries provide essential services, especially in economically depressed times. No matter how you slice it, the public library remains a vital resource for all residents, regardless of class or income.

"Right now, we need strong communities," said Norma Blake, the state librarian. "And the one public entity that is going to preserve the quality of life for residents is the public library."

Still, it never fails that when budget cuts are looming, it is quality of life institutions such as libraries and public parks that always seem to take the first hit.

After all, Trenton powerbrokers usually aren’t the people who use and rely upon libraries and parks the most.

William Dressel, executive director of the League of Municipalities, says that he is all for libraries in principle, he just wants local municipalities to have greater flexibility in funding them. If this bill is passed, and this thinking is allowed to prevail, we can rest assured that some libraries in New Jersey will cut services and others will cut staff. Some might be forced to close altogether.

Consequently, the General Assembly bill should not pass.

Posted by tumulty at February 19, 2009 3:12 PM

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