[Mpls] From Candidates Library Board Forum

[Laura and lloyd]

On Monday, September 5, 2005, at 05:23  PM, Anderson & Turpin wrote:
>
> Pitting interests against each other is exactly what the Board is 
> supposed
> to do.  I went to the candidate forum to discover what
> the priorities were for each candidate, but you didn't answer that.
>
> You can search for new funding sources, but that function is secondary 
> to
> your responsibility to spend the money responsibly.

Each year the library board approves its operating budget. That 
includes decisions on how much is allocated for personnel, the 
collection, and keeping the libraries running. In that way priorities 
are set are annually. When revenue fell, the library board voted to 
keep all libraries open. There was a cost for that. Over 70 jobs were 
lost.

Some library programs are funded by outside sources and some are funded 
by the operating budget. Even cutting 100% of those programs will not 
result in Saturday hours to all libraries. Restoring a few libraries to 
40 or 50 hours a week will involve closing many others. Addressing the 
$3 million gap in this way is a decision the library board has thus far 
rejected.

Private sources are not likely or reliable substitutes for tax revenue. 
Most funders are reluctant to replace lost government dollars or refuse 
to replace them. Others will give one time grants but not ongoing 
operating revenue. Still others will give for special programs that 
serve the poor, disadvantaged, or that have some other special 
population distinction. Those special program dollars cannot be used to 
restore library hours per se. Growing the tax revenue pie is the most 
feasible way to restore stability to the system.

Sheldon and I have the priority of growing the pie. The library board 
is elected city wide and represents the voters city wide. Every library 
is included. Not paying attention to revenues will have dire 
consequences in 2008 when the library budget is expected to be out of 
balance and unable to meet current expenses. More severe cuts will come 
unless we act now. The way to do that is to make the case, effectively 
and convincingly that the entire library system must have revenue 
sufficient to operate as the great public knowledge and education 
enterprise it is.

Best wishes,

Laura

Laura Waterman Wittstock
Candidate for Minneapolis Library Board of Trustees
DFL and Labor endorsed
AFSCME Mn Council 5
AFL-CIO COPE
Minneapolis Building and Trades
Stonewall DFL
Minnesota Women's Political Caucus
www.laurawatermanwittstock.com
http://laurawatermanwittstock.blogspot.com/
Wittstock for Library Committee
913 19th Avenue SE, Mpls, 55414
Minneapolis, MN
612-387-4915