Library could face $600,000 funding shortfall unless bond request accepted

As Monroe County Public Library patrons browsed the book and movie collections, Financial Officer Gary Lettelleir sat in his third-floor office with papers sprawled across his large desk.

For the past few months, Lettelleir and his staff have been looking for a solution to a possible $600,000 budget shortfall that the library might face starting in 2013. Now, the library is requesting permission from the county to issue a $1.3 million bond to make up for the shortfall.

MCPL Director Sara Laughlin said the shortfall arose because the library is coming close to paying off a bond that cost $2 million a year.

Because the bond was funded through property taxes, the library’s budget was raised to $9 million a year, $2 million more than the yearly operating budget.

Without the bond, Lettelleir said the library will have to consider cutting services and hours.

Laughlin said the budget shortfall has nothing to do with changes in technology or the economy.

“Although technology has and continues to radically change our services, usage of our traditional services is up,” she said. “For the 15th year in a row, we will have record circulation, and attendance is strong for our programs for children, teens and adults.”

The bond is scheduled on the Monroe County Council agenda for Dec. 13, and Councilman Ryan Langley said the council will likely make a decision by that date. He said the council has always supported the library.

“Issuing a new bond will not raise taxes for county residents,” Langley said. “While they were paying 3 cents to every $100 to assessed property before, issuing this bond would decrease that to 1 cent to every $100.”

Former Councilman Sam Allison resigned two weeks ago.

“I just hope whoever my successor is supports the library as much as I did and still do,” Allison said. “With income inequality becoming a growing problem, the Internet and DVD collections offered at the library are the only option for some people.”