ThisWeek UA 03/22/2011

http://www.thisweeknews.com/live/content/upperarlington/stories/2011/03/16/hp1.html?sid=104

In the wake of Governor John Kasich’s budget announcement, which proposes cutting state funding of libraries by an additional 5 percent, the Upper Arlington Public Library is preparing for its next levy campaign.

“We are relieved that the cuts did not go deeper,” library director Ann Moore said. “However, it is important to note the cumulative effect of the years of reductions to library funding. We are now operating at the same level of state funding that we had in 1996, while trying to meet 2011 expenses.”

In 2007 voters approved the current 2-mill operating levy which expires at the end of 2012.

Currently, 54 percent of the library’s operating income is tied to the 2007 levy contributions, according to Moore, compared to 43 percent when the levy was approved. The library’s projected expenditures for 2011 are $5.7 million.

To place the levy on the ballot, the city must file the issue with the Franklin County Board of Elections prior to Dec. 7. According to the library levy schedule, city council will begin their three public readings of the Resolution of Necessity in October, before voting whether to support putting the levy on the March 6, 2012 ballot.

The new levy steering committee first convened in February to begin development of their campaign strategy. The steering committee includes: Debbie Johnson, city council member; Sue Ralph, Upper Arlington Community Foundation executive director; Alison Circle, Columbus Metropolitan Library marketing director; Elizabeth Dilz, former Columbus Metropolitan Library marketing director; and, Peggy Tidwell, resident and Huntington Bank vice president.

The full levy campaign committee will begin meeting in April, according to Amy Sharpe, library board of trustees president.

“After that point, we’ll be ready with tasks and the committee will be looking for residents willing to volunteer with the campaign,” Sharpe said at the Tuesday, March 15 library board meeting.

Four main areas have already been identified by the steering committee as levy needs: long-term capital, routine maintenance and repair, technology and fundraising support.

“[Library staff] has done such a good job of managing the current cuts that I’m worried people don’t realize it,” library trustee William Shkurti said.

On May 4, 2009, voters turned down the library’s request for a $25 million capital improvement levy to renovate the main library on Tremont Road and complete maintenance projects at all three branches.

Since the 2009 levy defeat and the subsequent 11-percent state funding cuts, the library has made several cut backs to bridge the financial gap, according to Moore.

“There are things we’ve done that are quantifiable and some that aren’t,” Moore said. “We are now open 11 hours less a week than we were before and our outreach to preschools is gone.”

In response to the new state budget cuts, Moore said the board hasn’t had the opportunity to decide on any specific reductions but she expects those decisions will need to be made soon.