The Jamestown Prendergast Library board of trustees held its monthly meeting on Thursday, June 16, 2016 and board president Tom Rankin spent a few minutes updating the public on how the library plans to proceed for the rest of 2016, following the public rejecting an $850,000 funding initiative on June 7. The meeting also featured a public comment period with residents Doug Champ and Mike Smoker addressing the board.

Following comments from Rankin and the two members of the public, the board held its business portion of the meeting and acted on several items involving the 2016 budget.

Jamestown resident Doug Champ addresses the James Prendergast Library Board of Trustees during its board meeting Thursday, June 16.

JAMESTOWN – The James Prendergast Library will be reducing the number of hours that it will be open each week, starting in July.

On Thursday the library board of trustees held its monthly meeting and voted cut the hours of operation by 10.5 hours per week. The move means the library will now be open only 55 hours each week rather than the current 65.5 hours.

The new hours of operation, starting July 1, will be:

• Monday – Thursday: 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
• Friday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Saturday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Library officials say the reduction in hours will save the library more than $30,000 during the second half of this year. The savings would come via cuts in staffing.

The board also said it’s likely the library will not fill a currently vacant maintenance position, which will result in another $20,000 in savings for this year. Between the two, the library will see $50,000 in salary expenses cut from  the current year’s budget and will help to close a looming budget gap for next year.

BOARD CUTS BACK ON MATERIAL PURCHASES

In addition the board also acted on a motion to cut spending on new materials (such as books and DVDs) by $24,000, bringing the total line item down to $74,000 for the year. The $24,000 was to come out of the library’s endowment fund and the board voted 3 to 2 on returning that amount to the endowment. Board members Tom Price and Michelle McRay voted against the motion, with Price against the idea of returning the money to the endowment, saying it may have to be used for some other expense later in the year.

Jamestown resident Doug Champ addresses the James Prendergast Library Board of Trustees during its board meeting Thursday, June 16.

Board president Tom Rankin explained that the Thursday’s budget cuts were not the result of any shortfalls in the current year’s budget, but intended instead to be a proactive step to prepare for financial challenges in 2017.

“We’re a not-for-profit,” Rankin explained to WRFA following the meeting. “Our goal is to have enough money to pay the bills starting January 1. So we don’t know what the city will do with [it’s annual contribution] and we don’t know what the foundations will do. We’re trying to create a rainy day fund at this point so that when we do hit January 1, 2017, we have some money in the bank.”

The board’s budget cuts come following a public referendum earlier this month when voters rejected an $850,000 annual funding initiative for the library, which would have been paid via a tax on property owners in the Jamestown School District. In addition the city of Jamestown is facing major financial challenges for 2017 and may have to reduce or completely eliminate it’s annual contribution to the library, which was $350,000 for the current year.

Prior to Thursday’s cuts the library’s operating budget for 2016 was $1,132,000. In 2015 it was $1,188,000.

STRATEGIC PLANNING TO BEGIN THIS SUMMER

Rankin also addressed the public at the start of the meeting, noting that the library was disappointed with the funding initiative, but that they respect the outcome and the process, adding that it’s time to move forward. As a result he said the board has traditionally taken the months of July and August off and reconvened in September, but given the financial concerns on the horizon, it will hold meetings both in July and August. During that time the board will also begin the process of working on a multi-year strategic plan for the library, with Rankin saying that the process will include input from various stakeholders, including patrons and and the general public.

Rankin also once again indicated the the library’s art collection, which has an estimated value of $3.17 million, will likely have to be sold in an effort to add money to the endowment. In December the board said it would hold off on auctioning the collection until at least January 2017. That decision was made after a Texas-based couple, Jesse and Cathy Marion, with local ties offered to donate $60,000 to the library. In exchange the library would give those who want to see the collection stay in Jamestown one year to identify local supporters who’d be willing to purchase the collection and keep it in town so that it can continue to be available for the public to view.

The meeting will be the first for the board since city residents rejected the library’s $850,000 funding initiative earlier this month.

Because the library has not posted or distributed an agenda for Thursdsay meeting, it’s unknown if board members plan to discuss what the next course of action will be in regard to closing a looming budget gap for 2017, now that the funding initiative has failed.

The meeting is open to the public. It begins at 5:15 p.m. at the library.

The vote on the library Funding Initiative took place Tuesday at the Prendergast Library, with any eligible voters in the Jamestown School District eligible to vote on the referendum. According to the Chautauqua County Board of Elections, the unofficial vote from Tuesday was 1306 against, 856 in favor.

As a result of the vote, the library’s financial situation remains dire, with officials now facing limited options to help close the facility’s structural budget gap. Among the options that have been discussed in recent month is the reduction of hours of operation and staff cuts, along with eliminating some of the services the library provides.

The board will also continue to look into selling the library’s art collection (listed as being worth $3.17 million in the library’s 2014 990 tax return) to help restore funding in its endowment fund. In December 2015 the library announced that it would hold off on auctioning the collection and instead give the community time to identify local investors who could purchase the art and keep the collection remaining in Jamestown. If no local investors come forward with a plan for the artwork, the board would then consider selling individual pieces at auction. However, because any money from the art would go into the endowment, it would only yield about $30,000 in additional budget revenue for the library on an annual basis, well short

The library will also have to wait and see if it will receive any funding from the city of Jamestown in 2017. The city is facing a $2 million budget gap and will have to consider cuts to non-essential expenses in order to deal with the shortfall. That means there’s the possibility the city will not be able to give the library $350,000 next year, as it did for the current budget year.

The library will likely begin considering options when the board holds its next meeting, scheduled for Thursday, June 16.

Any resident who is eligible to vote in the Jamestown School Board elections will be able to vote on the funding referendum, which calls for a total of $850,000 to be raised every year for the library through a tax levy on all taxable property within the Jamestown School District.

Supporters of the measure say it is needed in order to keep the library operating at its current level of services. Opponents say it will create an even larger tax burden on local property owners.

Should the referendum be approved, it would result in a home worth $50,000 having to pay an annual tax of about $55 each year.

Voting will take place from noon to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the library, located at 509 Cherry St.

The county board of elections is assisting with the vote and will post the unofficial results Tuesday night on its website www.VoteChautauqua.com.

On Tuesday any resident who is eligible to vote in the Jamestown School District (which includes some areas outside of the city limits) will also be eligible to vote on the funding initiative, with hours running from noon to 9 p.m. at the library, located at 509 Cherry St.

Under state law, the school district is required to help facilitate the vote because the library is not legally allowed to put a taxing referendum up for a vote on its own.  The specific language of the referendum, which will require a “yes” or “no” vote, is as follows:

“Shall the sum of $850,000 be raised by annual levy of a tax upon the taxable real property within the Jamestown School District for the purpose of funding the James Prendergast Library Association?”

Library officials have said the funding initiative is necessary due to a loss in revenue in recent years – mostly from a decline in fundraising as well as in aid from the city. They say that by establishing an annual tax, the library will have a reliable source of funding to ensure it continues to provide the same level of services to the community.

• LISTEN TO WRFA INTERVIEW ON LIBRARY FUNDING INITIATIVE

The library also says that an annual tax will also allow it to work toward restoring its endowment fund, which has been raided in recent years to balance annual budget shortfalls. Without the funding, library officials say some current services will likely be eliminated, along with both staffing and hours.

The library has already had to make staffing adjustments to help offset a budget shortfall in 2016, as well as closing its doors to the public on Sundays.

Tax Dollars Pay for 30 Percent of Current Library Budget

The library budget for the current operating year is 1,132,000 dollars, with $350,000 coming from the city and $72,000 coming from the state. That’s just over 30 percent of its budget being covered by tax payer money. However, with the city of Jamestown facing a large budget gap for 2017 there’s a good chance it’s contribution to the library will be cut further next year if not eliminated altogether.

The remaining 69 percent of funding for the library’s budget comes by way of support from foundations, donations, from the community, fundraising, and from fees that the library is allowed to charge to patrons – such as overdue book fees.

Opponents Say Property Owners are Already Overburdened, Can’t Afford More Taxes

Opponents of the funding initiative say it would create another unwanted annual tax for city residents, who are already overburdened with high taxes from the city, school district and county.

In 2016, a property owner in Jamestown who’s home is assessed at $50,000 is charged an estimated total of $2600 in property taxes before any rebates like STAR are applied. If the library’s funding initiative is approved, another $55 each year would be tacked on to that total amount.

Library officials counter the argument by saying the $55 is a small and reasonable amount to pay to support a public library. They also point out that unlike city, school and county taxes, the library would have no ability to increase the  $850,000 tax any further without the approval of the public through another referendum.

Again the vote on the library funding initiative will take place on Tuesday, June 7 from noon to 9 p.m. at the library. All voters eligible to vote in the school district elections and budget vote would also be eligible to vote on the library funding initiative.

Prendergast Library board president Tom Rankin tells WRFA that library officials will be at the city council work session to share details of the funding proposal and answer any questions from city officials. Library officials say a lack of revenue from public donations, as well as a reduction in city aid during the past few years, has led them to hold the funding initiative vote.

• LISTEN TO WRFA’S INTERVIEW ON THE FUNDING INITIATIVE

The library is holding a public vote for an annual tax totaling $850,000 to be split among all taxable property owners in the Jamestown School District. The vote is set to take place on Tuesday, June 7 at the library from noon to 9 p.m. Anyone eligible to vote in the school board election and budget vote is also eligible to vote on the funding initiative.

The city council work session begins at 7:30 p.m. Monday in the mayor’s conference room, fourth floor of city hall. The meeting is also open to the public.

Jamestown Mayor Sam Teresi

JAMESTOWN – The James Prendergast Library is an extremely valuable asset for the community and the public should show its support for it by approving an $850,000 funding initiative in June.

That’s according to Jamestown Mayor Sam Teresi, who was a guest on this week’s Community Matters public affairs program on WRFA.

Teresi was asked his thoughts on the library’s proposed funding initiative and he said that if the library is to continue serving the public it will need the support of the community.

“I’m in support of anything that will allow that tremendous community treasure and asset to be able to stabilize its finances, to continue to provide the level and diversity of services that it provides on behalf of everybody regardless of age group and regardless of socioeconomic status in the community, regardless of where they reside in the city or outside the city,” Teresi said. “It would be a tragic loss to see irreparable damage to that operation and what it provides and means to the entire region.”

• LISTEN TO WRFA’S INTERVIEW ON THE FUNDING INITIATIVE

The funding initiative has been proposed by the library due to a decrease in other revenue sources in recent years, including recent reduction in aid from the city. Teresi said that unfortunately those cuts were necessary because city officials were out of options to consider when trying to keep spending in check, given the number of mandated expenses city government is required to cover.

“It was a tough decision over a period of the past five years to reduce the library’s funding [from the city] from $385,000 down to $350,000 but we had to do it,” Teresi explained. “It was very painful to make that cut because of the strong feelings that we have about a community asset and treasure like the library. Something needs to happen because that library – whether you step in it twice a year, 120 times a year, or not at all – is having an impact on the quality of life and the economic viability of this entire region.”

Teresi adds that in 2017 the city is facing $2.9 million budget gap, meaning that further cuts the library are possible – if not all together eliminated. Given the library has also seen a reduction in donations from the community, the mayor agrees with library officials that the funding initiative is an option the community must seriously consider if it wishes to continue allowing the library to serve as a community asset.

The funding initiative vote will take place on June 7 from noon to 9pm at the library. Anyone registered to vote in the Jamestown School District budget vote will also be eligible to vote on the funding initiative. If approved by residents, an $850,000 tax levy will be assessed to all taxable property in the city. That would equate to just under $60/year for a property assessed at $50,000.

Teresi’s interview will be rebroadcast on WRFA on Sunday, May 8 at noon. It will also be posted on WRFA’s website on Monday, May 9.

Executive Director Tina Scott will share information about the Initiative during a public presentation at 10 a.m. Wednesday in the library. Another presentation is also scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 11.

• LISTEN TO WRFA INTERVIEW WITH LIBRARY OFFICIALS ON FUNDING INITIATIVE

Library officials are asking city residents to consider the $850,000 funding initiative to help offset a growing budget gap for the library.

The public vote will take place on Tuesday, June 7 from noon to 9 p.m. at the library.