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April 14, 2009

W'boro could save dollars joining county library system

By: MELISSA HAYES
Burlington County Times
mhayes@phillyBurbs.com

WILLINGBORO - If the township were part of the county library system, taxpayers would save an average of $117 annually.

Mathematically, the merger makes sense, but you can't always judge a book by its cover.

When resident Gary Johnson raised the issue of joining the county system at a recent Township Council meeting, Councilman Jim Ayrer said he had concerns that the county would not keep the local library open.

Ayrer's concerns aren't unfounded. County Library Director Gail Sweet said economics would be a big factor in whether or not the county system took on another location.

"We're struggling, but we're financially stable," Sweet said. "Taking on a branch would be very difficult for us."

Sweet also said Willingboro is close to the county library headquarters in Westampton and another branch in Cinnaminson.

The township spent $7.6 million to build its library at the Town Center on Route 130; it opened in October 2003. Before that, the library, which dates back 50 years to the township's founding, was housed in the municipal building.

The 42,000-square-foot facility has an exhibit room, a history room, meeting rooms, a cafe and a 14,000-square-foot children's center.

Willingboro's is one of three libraries - along with Moorestown and Mount Laurel - not affiliated with the county system. Homeowners in municipalities that are part of the county system pay a library tax.

Sweet said 2009's proposed tax rate, which the Board of Freeholders has yet to approve, is $0.0295. However, that is just a base rate, which is subject to a state-mandated equalization process to ensure that taxes are spread evenly throughout the 40 county municipalities. The 37 towns that are part of the county library system also are assessed an equalized library tax rate.

The county Board of Taxation establishes separate rates for each municipality to account for instances in which market values are higher than assessed values, or where market values are lower than assessed values. Because Willingboro homes are assessed at only 52 percent of their market value, the county library tax would be $0.0436.

The owner of a home assessed at the township average of $100,000 would pay $43.66 in county library taxes, assuming the rate would not be affected by the inclusion of Willingboro's library.

Township Manager Joanne Diggs said the municipal library's budget in 2008 was $1,618,942, or about $0.16 per $100 of assessed property value. She said the owner of a home at the township average of $100,000 pays about $161 annually toward the library.

Diggs said her budget, which the Township Council is expected to vote on tonight, calls for flat funding for the library.

The Riverton Free Library was the last to become a branch of the Burlington County Library System in December 2003. The library had been a member of the county system before it was upgraded to a branch. At the time, Riverton's status upgrade cost the county about $200,000 in funding.

Member libraries receive partial funds, but still must pay for their staff and upkeep of the facility. Branch libraries are funded entirely by the county. Regardless of whether a town has a member or branch library, once it joins the county system, its residents pay the county library tax.

The county has eight branch libraries: Bordentown City, Cinnaminson, Evesham, Maple Shade, Medford, Pemberton Township, Riverton and Westampton. The system's member libraries include Bass River, Beverly, Burlington City, Chesterfield, Delanco, Florence, Mount Holly, Riverside and Southampton.

Sweet said if Willingboro wanted to join the system, the library's board of trustees would have to support the merger and the freeholders would have to approve it.

Sweet said she met with Willingboro officials more than 10 years ago before the new municipal library was constructed, but they decided not to join the system.

She said one main difference is that Willingboro's library employees are paid at a higher rate than county library employees. She said township officials have not contacted her recently about joining the county system.

"We're always willing to talk," she said, "but money being what it is, it's probably not likely."

Residents such as Johnson think township officials should at least speak with the county and try to reduce property taxes by any means possible. Most Willingboro employees are facing 13 furlough days to offset a budget deficit and the average homeowner could see his municipal taxes increase by about $120.

"The people are our most important asset, and we need to do everything we can to help the taxpayers and the workers of this municipality," Johnson said at the April 7 council meeting. "I understand you have pride and it's justifiable, but it's the people."

Posted by tumulty at April 14, 2009 3:01 PM

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