Watchung needs a new library - letters from your neighbors to the Mayor and Council
Dear Mayor Pote, Council President Joren, and Members of Council:
In reviewing the minutes from the October 5, 2017 Council meeting, I notice that a question was raised but not answered, about how our library is funded, and whether or not the charge for SCLS could be avoided. Through my involvement with the Watchung Library Advisory Board, I have learned some of the details of how library funding works in our county, and what options are open to our borough. I have also consulted directly with SCLS leadership regarding the facts.
County Library Funding
There is an assessment on taxpayers’ annual tax bill for ‘county library system,’ at a rate of .048, which is 2.4% of a taxpayers’ total tax. This payment to SCLS covers staffing, materials, public events/programming, online resources and materials, shared privileges at all ten SCLS branches, interlibrary loans, computers and technology, and as of most recently, the primary phone system in our building—as well as all the other resources that the library system offers to patrons. The borough covers the cost of the building and its maintenance. The borough also receives back from SCLS a rebate toward building operating expenses—currently somewhere around $6,000 per year.
As to whether that county library cost—this 2.4% of taxpayers’ total tax bill—could disappear, the simple answer is no. Because Watchung is in a county with a county library system, that charge will be assessed to each taxpayer, whether or not we host a branch building. An example of this would be Green Brook, which does not have a library building in town, and yet taxpayers are assessed the county library tax. The law is detailed in NJSA 40:33-1, County Library: establishment. The pertinent portion of the code is copied below.*
An Independent Library? — Apart from SCLS
The only way to remove that county library tax from taxpayers’ tax liability would be if Watchung pulled out of the SCLS entirely (by voter referendum—see N.J.S.A. 40:33-13b), AND established its own municipal library, bearing all of the expenses associated with a new library—not just a new library building, but also all that goes into a library. Library professionals maintain it would be expensive to provide the services, staffing and materials that Watchung currently enjoys, at a new independent borough library, due to the loss of the economies of scale and shared services associated with being part of a larger branch system; the building would still be a challenge, as it is now, plus the borough would have the responsibility of administering all of the rest of the details that go into running an independent library branch—salaries, benefits, materials, and on and on. It could not be done for the ‘minimum’ rate proscribed in the law. Library costs would likely increase rather than decrease, and our residents also would not have access to the broad array of materials and programs of the county system. In addition the law requires that the county library tax be collected for a lengthy time after a town were to disengage from the county system (at least two years plus some portion of a year, depending on the date of the withdrawal)--which certainly would not feel like any kind of bargain to taxpayers.
The Best Economy, the Best Services for Watchung
The fact that we host a library building in our town means that our residents can enjoy the benefits of a local library. It distinguishes our town, can be used by anyone and everyone as they so choose, and is appealing to homebuyers who consider making our lovely small town their home. It offers informal lifelong learning, social contact and community engagement for our residents of all ages, and could offer more public events and classes with the proposed building improvements. It cannot be replaced with the internet, or with a library from other towns; it can be the heart and soul of what makes our neighborhood a community. The SCLS library participation fee remains, whether we host a building or not; but for only the additional price of renovations, we can have a vibrant town resource to serve our residents.
The best we can offer the residents of our borough is to continue on with the Council’s commitment to construct an appropriate, accessible building, and invest in the future. It would be short sighted to abandon that plan now, for whatever small tax savings could be anticipated. Council’s commitment of $2.2 million in spending, spread out over years, is not a huge amount in the scheme of things (bearing in mind that residents may pay only 80% of the town’s tax, and businesses the other 20%, that $2.2 million might work out to a pretty small number on a yearly basis for residential taxpayers, but a great investment in their town and in their property values).
The state of New Jersey is offering an unprecedented matching opportunity, virtually a coupon for up to half off the cost of a new building. This is an even better deal than the state grants to libraries fifteen years ago (which were a $1 grant match for $2 of municipal spending), and we should be at the head of the line with our application and our blueprints in hand. The time is right to make a library all of Watchung can be proud of. Please let’s not let this chance pass us by!
Amy Fiorilla
* NJ Rev. Stat 40:33-13b (2015) (abbreviated for brevity)
40:33-13b. Withdrawal from county library system
Any municipality which is a member of a county library system pursuant to R.S. 40:33-1 on the effective date of this amendatory and supplementary act shall continue as a member of the county library system unless the governing body of the municipality determines by resolution to propose withdrawing from that system and establishing a free public library or a joint free public library.
Following the adoption of that resolution and after a public hearing held thereon the governing body shall cause the question of withdrawal from the county library system to be submitted to the legal voters of the municipality at an election to be held in the manner provided for the establishment of free public libraries pursuant to R.S. 40:54-1 et seq.
The question shall be submitted in one of the following forms: (referendum details removed). . . .
If a majority of the voters approve the withdrawal from the county library system, the municipal governing body shall provide the county governing body with notice of its intent to withdraw from the county library system. Such notice shall not become effective until January 1 of the year following the year in which the notice was given and shall provide that the municipality remain a member of the county library system for two years after the effective date of the notice.
Any municipality which withdraws from the county library system and which fails to comply with the provisions of this section shall be required to provide the county library with financial support in the manner provided in chapter 33 of Title 40 of the Revised Statutes for a period of two years from the year of the municipality's withdrawal from the system.
Nothing in this section shall prevent a municipality from establishing a municipal free public library pursuant to chapter 54 of Title 40 of the Revised Statutes.
P.L. 1985, c. 541, s. 7; amended 1988,c.38,s.5.
In reviewing the minutes from the October 5, 2017 Council meeting, I notice that a question was raised but not answered, about how our library is funded, and whether or not the charge for SCLS could be avoided. Through my involvement with the Watchung Library Advisory Board, I have learned some of the details of how library funding works in our county, and what options are open to our borough. I have also consulted directly with SCLS leadership regarding the facts.
County Library Funding
There is an assessment on taxpayers’ annual tax bill for ‘county library system,’ at a rate of .048, which is 2.4% of a taxpayers’ total tax. This payment to SCLS covers staffing, materials, public events/programming, online resources and materials, shared privileges at all ten SCLS branches, interlibrary loans, computers and technology, and as of most recently, the primary phone system in our building—as well as all the other resources that the library system offers to patrons. The borough covers the cost of the building and its maintenance. The borough also receives back from SCLS a rebate toward building operating expenses—currently somewhere around $6,000 per year.
As to whether that county library cost—this 2.4% of taxpayers’ total tax bill—could disappear, the simple answer is no. Because Watchung is in a county with a county library system, that charge will be assessed to each taxpayer, whether or not we host a branch building. An example of this would be Green Brook, which does not have a library building in town, and yet taxpayers are assessed the county library tax. The law is detailed in NJSA 40:33-1, County Library: establishment. The pertinent portion of the code is copied below.*
An Independent Library? — Apart from SCLS
The only way to remove that county library tax from taxpayers’ tax liability would be if Watchung pulled out of the SCLS entirely (by voter referendum—see N.J.S.A. 40:33-13b), AND established its own municipal library, bearing all of the expenses associated with a new library—not just a new library building, but also all that goes into a library. Library professionals maintain it would be expensive to provide the services, staffing and materials that Watchung currently enjoys, at a new independent borough library, due to the loss of the economies of scale and shared services associated with being part of a larger branch system; the building would still be a challenge, as it is now, plus the borough would have the responsibility of administering all of the rest of the details that go into running an independent library branch—salaries, benefits, materials, and on and on. It could not be done for the ‘minimum’ rate proscribed in the law. Library costs would likely increase rather than decrease, and our residents also would not have access to the broad array of materials and programs of the county system. In addition the law requires that the county library tax be collected for a lengthy time after a town were to disengage from the county system (at least two years plus some portion of a year, depending on the date of the withdrawal)--which certainly would not feel like any kind of bargain to taxpayers.
The Best Economy, the Best Services for Watchung
The fact that we host a library building in our town means that our residents can enjoy the benefits of a local library. It distinguishes our town, can be used by anyone and everyone as they so choose, and is appealing to homebuyers who consider making our lovely small town their home. It offers informal lifelong learning, social contact and community engagement for our residents of all ages, and could offer more public events and classes with the proposed building improvements. It cannot be replaced with the internet, or with a library from other towns; it can be the heart and soul of what makes our neighborhood a community. The SCLS library participation fee remains, whether we host a building or not; but for only the additional price of renovations, we can have a vibrant town resource to serve our residents.
The best we can offer the residents of our borough is to continue on with the Council’s commitment to construct an appropriate, accessible building, and invest in the future. It would be short sighted to abandon that plan now, for whatever small tax savings could be anticipated. Council’s commitment of $2.2 million in spending, spread out over years, is not a huge amount in the scheme of things (bearing in mind that residents may pay only 80% of the town’s tax, and businesses the other 20%, that $2.2 million might work out to a pretty small number on a yearly basis for residential taxpayers, but a great investment in their town and in their property values).
The state of New Jersey is offering an unprecedented matching opportunity, virtually a coupon for up to half off the cost of a new building. This is an even better deal than the state grants to libraries fifteen years ago (which were a $1 grant match for $2 of municipal spending), and we should be at the head of the line with our application and our blueprints in hand. The time is right to make a library all of Watchung can be proud of. Please let’s not let this chance pass us by!
Amy Fiorilla
* NJ Rev. Stat 40:33-13b (2015) (abbreviated for brevity)
40:33-13b. Withdrawal from county library system
Any municipality which is a member of a county library system pursuant to R.S. 40:33-1 on the effective date of this amendatory and supplementary act shall continue as a member of the county library system unless the governing body of the municipality determines by resolution to propose withdrawing from that system and establishing a free public library or a joint free public library.
Following the adoption of that resolution and after a public hearing held thereon the governing body shall cause the question of withdrawal from the county library system to be submitted to the legal voters of the municipality at an election to be held in the manner provided for the establishment of free public libraries pursuant to R.S. 40:54-1 et seq.
The question shall be submitted in one of the following forms: (referendum details removed). . . .
If a majority of the voters approve the withdrawal from the county library system, the municipal governing body shall provide the county governing body with notice of its intent to withdraw from the county library system. Such notice shall not become effective until January 1 of the year following the year in which the notice was given and shall provide that the municipality remain a member of the county library system for two years after the effective date of the notice.
Any municipality which withdraws from the county library system and which fails to comply with the provisions of this section shall be required to provide the county library with financial support in the manner provided in chapter 33 of Title 40 of the Revised Statutes for a period of two years from the year of the municipality's withdrawal from the system.
Nothing in this section shall prevent a municipality from establishing a municipal free public library pursuant to chapter 54 of Title 40 of the Revised Statutes.
P.L. 1985, c. 541, s. 7; amended 1988,c.38,s.5.
Mayor Pote and Council members,
Watchung needs a library. There is so much our library already does to encourage community involvement but it's in disrepair and undersized for our needs. As you know we will pay the county library tax whether we have our own building or not, but if we have a building we will get a better value for our money. Part of the library tax money is provided to towns with their own libraries for building maintenance, they also provide staff, materials and programming commensurate to the space available. Additionally, we now have the opportunity to take advantage of 50% matching funds from the State to begin construction. Since we already have plans we can be the first in line.
If we do nothing our current building will become unusable and will either need major repair, replacement or destruction. Instead of a building that can revitalize an area now distinguished by empty building and retail space we can use this opportunity to revitalize the heart of our town. It's time to make a decision that will effect Watchung for generations to come. Are we a town that supports civic involvement of all ages and interests? Do we want to create a public area inclusive of a library and surrounding revitalized private businesses? Can we take advantage of financial opportunities such as the state matching fund that tie into our community values in service of the greater good?
Letting our library close through neglect serves no one. The savings would be minimal but the harm would be large. One of the purposes of local government is to look out for the best interests of the residents. A library is in our best interest.
Sincerely,
Haze Bell
Watchung needs a library. There is so much our library already does to encourage community involvement but it's in disrepair and undersized for our needs. As you know we will pay the county library tax whether we have our own building or not, but if we have a building we will get a better value for our money. Part of the library tax money is provided to towns with their own libraries for building maintenance, they also provide staff, materials and programming commensurate to the space available. Additionally, we now have the opportunity to take advantage of 50% matching funds from the State to begin construction. Since we already have plans we can be the first in line.
If we do nothing our current building will become unusable and will either need major repair, replacement or destruction. Instead of a building that can revitalize an area now distinguished by empty building and retail space we can use this opportunity to revitalize the heart of our town. It's time to make a decision that will effect Watchung for generations to come. Are we a town that supports civic involvement of all ages and interests? Do we want to create a public area inclusive of a library and surrounding revitalized private businesses? Can we take advantage of financial opportunities such as the state matching fund that tie into our community values in service of the greater good?
Letting our library close through neglect serves no one. The savings would be minimal but the harm would be large. One of the purposes of local government is to look out for the best interests of the residents. A library is in our best interest.
Sincerely,
Haze Bell