Story posted Wednesday, July 1, 2009
City: Library Must Cut Costs
By TODD WESSELL Journal & Topics Editor
Aldermen sent a stinging message to members of the Des Plaines Library board and staff Monday night:
Cut costs and share the pain.
City council and library board members met in the downtown library Monday night in a get acquainted, clear the air gathering. After touring the 82,000 sq. ft., four-story facility, the local officials sat down in a first floor meeting room to discuss subjects of common interest and for each board to lay out their concerns. In the case of a few aldermen, they didn't mince words.
"I'd like to see the library come in line. Please scrutinize your budget as the city did," said Ald. Jean Higgason (4th). "Cut out your conference and air travel. That would be a good step toward better relations."
For years, relations between Des Plaines city councils and library boards have been strained primarily over what some aldermen believe is unnecessary library spending. The crux of the problem is over the fact that in a city form of government, the library board establishes an annual budget and the city approves a library tax levy based on that budget. Aldermen are obligated to set the levy based on the library's spending plan. A tax levy is an amount of money governments annually request from property owners. Council members have said that they have no choice but to approve the levy based on what the library wants. Public criticism, which often occurs when levies are adopted, is mostly directed at the city for approving a library levy they had little or no control over. At Monday night's meeting aldermen made it clear that they want the library to reduce spending in order to lessen the levy, which has to be adopted by the end of the year.
"City department heads didn't take pay raises this year," said Ald. Pat Haugeberg (1st) as the conversation about library spending continued. Second ward Ald. John Robinson said many homes in Des Plaines have been foreclosed on in recent months. Ald. Mark Walsten (6th) added, "A lot of us feel it's time to sharpen your pencils." Said Mayor Marty Moylan, "Everyone's got to share the pain."
Library Administrator Sandra Norlin asked whether aldermen would support a plan by the library to not increase next year's budget, but to maintain funding to attend conferences.
"As a taxpayer, I'd feel that was a slap in the face," responded Higgason. "How do you say to a taxpayer that there will be a zero increase in the budget but they'd still go to conferences?"
"But if we choose another way to cut?" asked Norlin.
"It doesn't ring well,' Higgason said. City Attorney Dave Wiltse added, "It says that you can cut more."
"Now we know where you're coming from. In the last few years we were unaware," said library board President Noreen Lake.
"We'll look at it from a much different point of view," added board member Eldon Burk.
Norlin said that while she can look at commodities, personnel and equipment for potential cost cutting, she reminded aldermen that the number of library employees has been reduced by 8-1/2 in the last two years.
Later, Ald. Matt Bogusz (3d), who served on the library board before his election to city council in April, questioned why the city council decided four years ago to no longer provide trash pickup for the library resulting in a new expense.
Norlin said that during a recent meeting with City Manager Jason Bajor, he expressed the belief that the many services the city provides the library, such as payroll and benefit administration, are becoming financially burdensome.
Earlier, several aldermen expressed their support for the library saying how important it is to the community and for downtown redevelopment.
"It's become the cultural center of the community," said Ald. Robinson.
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