Evanston PL Establishes Public Library Fund Model To Control Budget
By Lynn Blumenstein August 16, 2010The Evanston Public Library (EPL), IL, Board of Trustees has taken a dramatic step to gain more control over its budget by voting August 4 to establish a Public Library Fund (PLF). This method of funding, already in use by many larger Illinois public libraries, enables a library to establish its own millage, up to a limitation.
The state-determined maximum of a .23 millage per $1000 assessed property value is nearly twice the current assessment in Evanston. The City Council would be obligated to collect the taxes and deposit them into a library fund, rather than treat library funding as discretionary.
"We are one of the few municipalities of our size that hasn't moved to this model," EPL Board President Christopher Stewart told LJ. "We are beginning a process... to ensure stable and predictable funding for the library."
Last March. the City Council threatened to close two branch libraries in order to save $292,000. Community outrage sparked a compromise; EPL was given $164,000 to operate the branches until September 1. This amount has been supplemented by community donations raised with the help of BranchLove.
Future budget choices
The library board must adopt a budget for FY11-12 (which begins March 1, 2011) by enacting a resolution to set a tax levy in "essentially the amount of the budget we request," said Stewart, according to the Pioneer Local.
The Board of Trustees has directed library staff to prepare three future budget scenarios, each of which may require a somewhat different budget. They will vote on their choice at a September 15 meeting. "Our goal is not to implement a tax increase," said Stewart.
The options involve various configurations of funding for materials and branches, both of which have been cut, but neither of which likely could be fully restored without a tax increase.
EPL's current budget
EPL's current budget is the equivalent of half of a .23 millage assessment, or a .12 assessment, which Stewart doesn't consider adequate. The budget is $4,217,872, with $3,765,072 from the city and $452,800 from library-generated revenue, including fines, fees, and state grants.
Evanston has a population of 78,000, so per capita library spending is about $54. However, Stewart told the newspaper, it's $207 for neighboring Skokie and $221 for Northbrook
Community reactions
"We've had many strong supporters," said Stewart, but some of the elected officials are opposed to the PLF. "We've been trying to dispel misinformation."
The EPL Friends group has posted information about PLFs in order to clear up misconceptions about its consequences. According to them, "Cities and villages that operate with a Library Fund include, but are not limited to: Skokie, Arlington Heights, Deerfield, Des Plaines, Morton Grove, Highland Park, Naperville, Lake Forest, and more."
