Carl Gouveia, director of the Seymour Library in Brockport, says the library will likely continue to pursue creation of a special legislative district public library following a decision by the Sweden Town Board to provide the library with additional funding.
Council members made the unanimous decision during their regular meeting May 27. Library officials had been asking for a show of support for creation of the special district, but Councilperson Donald Roberts brought forth a motion for the town to write the library a check for the amount of an increase of six percent in funding for this year (about $8,000).
Town Finance Director Leisa Strabel and council members said the funds are already in the town budget and the cost would be less to Sweden taxpayers than the tax increase they would face if a district was created. Officials estimate the average Sweden (town outside the village) taxpayer would face an additional $70-$80 in taxes annually based on the current library budget if a special library district was formed.
“I would like to see the other municipalities (Town of Clarkson, Village of Brockport) come to the table to discuss the tax impact if the district goes forward,” Councilperson Roberts said. “We’ve supported the library all these years, I don’t understand why the other municipalities don’t go along with increases.”
“We’ve got to do what’s right in our hearts,” Councilperson Robert Muesebeck said about the increased financial support.
Library Board of Trustees Vice-President Linda Sanford, who attended the meeting, told council members, “It’s a step in the right direction. You’re making an attempt to do something about inequalities in the way the library is funded.”
The Seymour Library is chartered as a tri-municipal library serving the Village of Brockport and the Towns of Sweden and Clarkson.
Library Director Carl Gouveia told the Suburban News/Hamlin-Clarkson Herald that the current funding agreement among the three municipalities “hamstrings the library because whatever percentage one gives, the others have to give the same. So, even if one of the municipalities wants to increase the library’s funding by 10 percent, the others have to agree to the same percentage increase. That doesn’t happen. We always end up with small funding increases because that’s what all three municipalities can agree upon. The rising demand for library programs and services coupled with increased costs has put the library at a financial crossroads – either we move forward and ask the public directly for community-based funding or we cut back on what we offer.”
The Town of Clarkson and Village of Brockport have also addressed the possibility of creating a special library district.
During their regular meeting, also on May 27, members of the Clarkson Town Board discussed the proposed district.
Supervisor Paul Kimball indicated the town had not received updated information on the status of the proposal and commented that “the tax impact on any year could exceed the two percent cap if they got the votes.” He also noted a newly-formed library district could exceed the two percent tax cap its first year without the vote.
Councilperson Christa Filipowicz said, “I’m not in favor of anything that will raise taxes.”
She said the current situation with the three municipal boards providing annual support is working and that she had heard no other reason for forming the district other than to raise taxes.
As a town board member, Filipowicz said she frequently hears concerns from residents regarding tax increases.
Councilperson Patrick Didas said he agreed with Councilperson Filipowicz’s comments.
The Clarkson Town Board did not take any action regarding support of the creation of a special library district.
At their regular meeting May 5, members of the Brockport Village Board did vote on a resolution regarding support of the special library district, but the vote was split: two members voted yes, two voted no, and one abstained, meaning the village has not given support to the proposal.
Brockport Mayor Margaret Blackman voted in favor of the resolution. She told the Suburban News/Hamlin-Clarkson Herald that there are many frustrations faced by the library in its budget process, and that even the three municipalities have not been able to get together with library officials to discuss annual budgets.
“It’s very, very difficult,” she said and added “why not let the public decide whether or not to go to a district?”
Library Director Carl Gouveia has stated that a show of support from at least two of the three municipalities is important in gaining the support of the New York State Legislature. He said the library has discussed formation of the special district with state representatives.
“Legislation needs to be passed by both the Assembly and the Senate and then signed by the Governor. The legislation has been drafted and will be introduced in the Senate by Senator George Maziarz.Assemblyman Steve Hawley will sponsor the bill in the Assembly. These types of bills routinely pass and the governor has signed them when they get to his desk,” Gouveia said.
After state approval
Once the district receives state approval, it is voted on by local residents, who also vote on the first budget. If approved, district residents would elect trustees and vote annually on the budget, which is subject to the state’s property tax cap.
Gouveia also commented that there is no connection between creating a library district and the dissolution of village government. “I’m not sure why anyone would make that connection,” he said. “The library is already a separate governmental entity asking for community-based funding from the communities it serves.”
Library officials have stated they are at the breaking point financially and can no longer afford to do more with less.
“The Seymour Library will continue to be behind a financial eight ball if it continues to be one of many competing financial priorities of the municipalities that fund it,” Gouveia said. “By becoming a library district with community-based funding voted upon by the communities it serves, the library will be financially stable and be able to meet the growing needs of its patrons. It’s just that simple. Becoming a district is vital to the library’s existence.”
He noted that funding restraints have forced the library to cut Sunday hours despite the needs of patrons. “Our limited resources means our skeleton crew (four full time and 4.5 part-timers) are stretched thin for the over 118,000 people who borrowed over 166,000 items, attended 582 programs including summer reading and used our public computers 24,875 times last year. Our budget restraints have also hampered our technology – almost half of our 38 computers run Windows XP which is no longer supported by Microsoft.”
Gouveia welcomes questions from residents regarding the proposed district. He can be reached by phone at 637-1057 or at cgouveia@libraryweb.org.
