Jefferson County Public Library, CO, Prepares for "Perfect Storm"
By Norman Oder Aug 31, 2010Citing what its director calls "a perfect storm of budget challenges," the Jefferson County Public Library (JCPL), Lakewood, CO, plans to cut its budget at least $3 million—about 12 percent—over the next two years.
And it could be worse for JCPL—the state's third-largest library—and other Colorado libraries if pending ballot measures that would freeze or roll back taxes are passed by voters in November. (Businesses and organizations have mobilized under the rubric of Don't Hurt Colorado to fight the measures.)
"Libraries around the country are coming under siege, and JCPL is no exception," said JCPL Executive Director Marcellus Turner. The library's budget is about $25 million.
Cuts and costs
The library board has proposed:
- closing JCPL libraries on Mondays
- eliminating 22,650 temporary staff hours (at 40 hours a week over 50 weeks, that's about eleven FTE) and 14 permanent full-time equivalent, through a combination of vacancies and layoffs
- cutting the materials budget by $300,000, or about eight percent
- suspending employee merit increases for the second straight year
"In 2010, our revenues were reduced by more than $2 million, and we were able to manage that reduction without making significant changes to library programs and services," Turner said. "We no longer have that luxury."
Next year, JCPL anticipates reductions in revenue (county taxes, interest income, and charitable donations and support), along with increased costs to support employee benefits, totaling about $1.5 million.
In 2012, a projected seven percent reduction in assessed property values should lead to lowered property tax revenues, posing another $1.5 million shortfall.
And if the ballot issues pass, the library would lose an additional $1.4 million over four years, given that the library's share of vehicle ownership taxes would decline.
County decision
The county must approve the budget by December. Before then, the library will hold community meetings to solicit input and respond to public concerns. "These are proposals to meet the budget guidelines," Turner said.
