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February 5, 2009

PRINCETON: Bill to cut library aid opposed here

Packet of Princeton On-Line

By Greg Forester, Staff Writer

Posted: Monday, February 2, 2009 6:34 PM EST
A push to halve the minimum level of funding for municipal libraries that has garnered support from some of New Jersey’s local officials will find none at Princeton-area libraries, where library leaders say the current funding level is already inadequate for the array of services provided by their libraries.

Current state law mandates that municipalities provide local libraries with a level of funding equal to one-third of a mill, or approximately one-third of a thousandth of every dollar of true property value in a municipality. The plan, which has received support from some New Jersey mayors and the state League of Municipalities, seeks to have that amount changed to one-sixth of a mill.

The effort elicited concern from Princeton Public Library Director Leslie Burger last week during a board of trustees meeting.

Her concern was elevated, she said, in light of the economic climate and the fiscal pressure facing many municipalities.

Those factors meant such a plan could garner more support than similar plans that had emerged from time to time in the past, Ms. Burger said.

”It’s possible this could pass this time,” said Ms. Burger.

In response the Princeton library board passed a resolution against such a funding change, which Ms. Burger characterized as potentially “having a fairly devastating effect on libraries.”

Statistics provided by Ms. Burger show that the vast majority of New Jersey’s local libraries run on more than minimum funding. Of 228 municipal libraries, 39 are funded below the minimum level, 41 at the minimum level, and 148 receive more than minimum funding.

Plainsboro Public Library is among those libraries that run exactly at the minimum funding level, but achieving that feat means reliance on a variety of cost-cutting measures that cannot be expanded in the event of funding being cut in half, according to Library Director Ginny Baeckler.

”It’s pretty much impossible to really run a library well at a third of a mill,” said Ms. Baeckler, whose library relies on volunteers and donated books to cut costs and run a full-service library on minimum funding.

For Plainsboro’s library, which lacks the community affluence and financial support of Princeton’s facility, half-funding would “absolutely mean cutting services in a half,” Ms. Baeckler said.

Despite growing concern, Ms. Baeckler said she remained doubtful the plan would receive support from legislators.

She said such a plan and the resulting slash in services would cause “uproar” in the community and carry political consequences.

”You would have major unrest in most communities,” she said.

Supporters of the plan, like the state League of Municipalities Director Bill Dressel, say the plan is meant to empower municipal officials who face excruciating budget decisions this year. He likened the minimum funding requirement to police contracts and other obligations that tie the hands of mayors and governing bodies working on local budgets.
”That money is lock-boxed,” Mr. Dressel said.

The push to cut funding was not based on a lack of support for libraries, according to Mr. Dressel, who noted that supporters did not seek to eliminate library funding requirements altogether.

”Here, we’re going to make an exception to our exception,” Mr. Dressel said.
The plan has only been debated by local municipal officials so far, and has not been brought up in the state Legislature yet.

Mr. Dressel said local officials needed “the folks under the gold dome to give us the tools” to reduced the amount of dedicated money in local budgets.

”There is no other funding program that starts with a dedicated amount,” he said.

Posted by tumulty at February 5, 2009 7:46 PM

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