Evanston’s Library Board Wednesday night accepted a last-minute proposal from the city manager for a transition plan to avoid a possible confrontation over the board’s assertion of taxing powers.
City Manager Wally Bobkiewicz proposed that the board postpone plans to levy taxes for another year and that in return he would urge the City Council to consider an ordinance early next year that would give the board the power to hire and fire the library director and to set a tax levy for library operations starting with fiscal year 2013.
In the meantime, he said he would recommend that the City Council fund library operations for next year from the general fund at a level $140,000 greater than the city’s proposed 2012 base budget.
He also said the library would not have to come up with its own money in 2012 to pay rent on the north branch building or for $20,000 in city overhead charges included in earlier budget proposals.
He said he would also ask the City Council to form a subcommittee to meet with library board members to work out details of making a transition to a new model for library operations.
He said the subcommittee would consider appropriate charges to the library fund by the city for use of city property and services, cost allocation of previous library capital improvement debt and creation of a library debt service fund, consideration of a temporary loan from the city to the library to deal with tax payment timing issues in 2013 and consideration of a transfer from the city to the library of funds for an operating reserve.
Top: Bobkiewicz presenting his transition plan. Above: Library board members reviewing the proposal.
Library Board Member Susan Newman called the proposal “an outstanding move.”
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart,” Newman told Bobkiewicz. “I appreciate your willingness to come here and put the proposal in writing.”
Member Diane Allen called the ideas “all very well reasoned.”
Bobkiewicz noted that the library has operated as a city department with the director reporting to the city manager and the City Council setting its budget for at least the past half century.
For the past couple of years library board members have pushed to move to a model set forth in the state library code under which the board, appointed by the mayor, would set the budget and impose a tax levy on local residents.
He noted that while the city as a whole is proposing to eliminate 11 positions in next year’s budget, the library has proposed to add a new neighborhood outreach coordinator position.
But Board Member Susan Stone said adding the outreach position was more prudent, “rather than opening three branches” as some board members might have preferred.
And Member Michael Tannen claimed the board has been “extremely frugal,” not “irresponsible or profligate” as he said critics have claimed.
Bobkiewicz said the concept of a non-elected board levying taxes “has never happened in Evanston,” and he suggested it might be a difficult idea for some aldermen to accept.
“But my intention is to do the best I can to sell this,” the city manager said, “and I know the mayor and council appreciate hearing from you.”
He argued that the vote by the board in favor of the plan “would send a signal to council that we are on a path to bring some of thse issues to resolution.”
Another give-away to those who think money falls from trees
"In the meantime, he said he would recommend that the City Council fund library operations for next year from the general fund at a level $140,000 greater than the city's proposed 2012 base budget.
He also said the library would not have to come up with its own money in 2012 to pay rent on the north branch building or for $20,000 in city overhead charges included in earlier budget proposals."
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The story is not clear on where the money will actually come from, but the Board relief and Managers statement make it sound like the city not the library will bear the costs. This is still not free money. It only masks the costs of the library in total and the branch in specific. Someone has to pay no matter how you re-arrnage the pie– -the taxpayer !
I'm all in favor of the library but we have and should have only one for a city of this size—the Main. The longer we waste money with the north branch, the poorer the Main will become. Remember several years ago the Main had to reduce hours until the new budget years. If we keep going this way they will have to do so—and further reduce the book/periodical collection—-again. The city does not have an unlimited supply of funds and is already in enough trouble. When will the Council, all the boards, special interests and residents living in a fantasy world ever come to grips with reality and not assume we can have everything when and where we want it.
While they seem to assume residents are stuck here, they are not. They may not be able to sell their houses for what they want so they can move from Evanston, but with the foreclosures that is being determined for them. Others rent and can move quickly and NU students can certainly vote with their feet at graduation—and we loose not only taxpayers but a level of people who should be able to help the community.
Yes, people have choices
John, you are correct – people have choices. City Council and government needs to understand that there are limited resources – I haven't found a "money tree" either. Unemployment remains high, underemployment remains high, and job security remains low.
Income growth is low, but taxes and fees continue to increase at a faster rate in Evanston.
PLUS The quality of education at our high school is going in the WRONG direction.
ETHS eliminated straight honors Freshman Humanities last year and the Administration is recommending eliminating the straight honors Freshman Biology class next year. When people realize the full ramifications of these changes, watch the number of houses that go up for sale, and look at the number of families who WON'T move to Evanston.
I just watched a replay of Monday's D202 School Board Meeting and was saddened to see the lack of thoughtful and responsible questions from all School Board members. This is a significant change and for board members not to have questions demonstrates an abdication of their responsibility to the community, and for other board members to verbally attack one of their colleagues reveals their true character.
Watch the Monday November 7th Board meeting and get informed – this is critically important to the future of Evanston.
So other than high, and higher taxes and a declining quality of education at ETHS, life is great in Evanston.