HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance 09-13-1996ST. CROIX COUNTY
NOTICE OF COMMITTEE MEETING
TO: Robert M. Boche, Chairman
St. Croix County Board
FROM: Donald Brown, Chair
COMMITTEE TITLE: FINANCE
DATE: September 13, 1996
TIME: 9:00 A.M.
LOCATION: St. Croix County Government Center
CALL TO ORDER
ROLL CALL
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
DATE OF NEXT MEETING: October 9, 1996
ACTION ON PREVIOUS MINUTES
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
NEW BUSINESS:
1. Review of Library Study Report
2. Request of Library Services Board for a Line Item Transfer to
Purchase Computer Equipment
3. Tour of County Library
4. Tour of Tax Deed Property
5. Tour of Perch Lake
ANNOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE
POSSIBLE AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING:
ADJOURNMENT
(Agenda not necessarily presented in this order)
SUBMITTED BY:
DATE: 9/10/96
COPIES TO: County Clerk
News Media/Notice Board
Committee Members
FINANCE MEETING
Special Meeting September 13, 1996
Meeting called to order by Chair Brown at 9:00 a.m. Meeting was
recessed briefly to move to County Board room. Chair introduced staff
present: County Clerk Sue Nelson, Corporation Counsel Greg Timmerman,
Administrative Coordinator John Krizek, Finance Director Rich Loney;
Committee members Robert Boche (also County Board Chair), John Bradley,
Tom O'Connell, Don Brown; and Supervisor Nancy Bieraugel, President of
the Library Board. Committee member Tom Dorsey was absent and excused.
Motion by Bradley, 2nd by Boche to adopt the agenda. Carried. Next
regular session is October 9th.
Chair Brown stated two municipalities have withdrawn their library levy
from the County which is 250 of library levies received. If Town of
Troy does likewise, up to 370 of the funding could be lost. We are here
to solve the problem and Brown cautioned against personal attacks and
wishes to work together to identify and solve this problem.
Corporation Counsel Timmerman advised the Town of Hudson and Village of
North Hudson have the right to be exempt as long as the same dollars are
spent as was levied to have library services. Their desire to contract
for services is appropriate for exemption according to Timmerman. The
WI Statutes were read to confirm the previous statements.
Nancy Bieraugel read the letter to County Board Chair Boche which
stated, in part, the Town of Hudson believes they would get a better
return on the investment of tax dollars by making more books and
services available from the City of Hudson library. In a letter to the
Library Board, the Town of Hudson said their citizens are best served by
giving their tax dollars directly to the City of Hudson Library.
Administrative Coordinator Krizek reviewed the Library Study report.
The 1995 Study Committee was formed with the main premise of how can
adequate and equitable library funding be achieved in St. Croix County.
The Library levy in 1996 was $246,000 which goes to the County Library
for allocation to municipal libraries. Of, this total, $140,000 is used
for County Library expenses.
In response to the Books by Mail program run by IFLS, Indianhead
Federated Library Service Representative Sandy Robbers indicated the
service would not be the same as the County Library; the level of
service would be reduced. IFLS also coordinates the Inter -Library loan
program among 10 County Public Libraries and offers workshops and
consulting services for libraries. Their budget is $860,000 of state
dollars.
County Library Director Maureen Farrell said the present tax rates are
$30 per municipal resident and $8 per rural resident which is not
equitable funding.
Krizek noted in comparison to five other counties with similar size
population, libraries in St. Croix County own the fewest volumes, check
out the fewest items, are open the fewest hours and spend slightly fewer
dollars on libraries.
Bieraugel commented local libraries use dollars wisely but don't have
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money for collection development and she encouraged more county dollars
for libraries.
Krizek said the Library Automation Committee voted to wait until IFLS
studied the shared automation system through a grant received to conduct
this study.
The Library Study recommendations offered six scenarios, two of which
were unworkable. No. 1 recommended increased county funding which would
be a policy decision by the County Board which is not likely if other
municipalities withdraw their levy and contract for services. No. 2 was
a consolidated county library system which brings libraries into a
county system with a single library board and a uniform tax rate. (None
of the libraries present indicated an interest in this scenario.) No 3
was direct funding formula which provides funding directly from St.
Croix County to municipalities which have public libraries. This would
eliminate the St. Croix County Library. No 4. was a joint library with
two or more municipalities forming and funding a joint library. There
was no interest shown in this recommendation.
Finance Director Loney read the levies to the municipalities for library
services which are based on equalized values.
Chair Brown offered a time for public testimony. Sue Lohmeier, Chair
of the Disability Coalition, expressed their dependence on the County
Library system for resources and community awareness of programs for
residents with special needs. Access would be cut off if there was no
county library system.
Janet Knutson, Library Board member, indicated part of the Board's
mission statement is to provide services to people with special needs.
Supervisor Herb Giese, who previously served on the Library Board, said
this issue hasn't been solved for many years. The County is growing and
more library services are needed. He believes a consolidated library
could work. He recommended the County conduct public hearings or have
a referendum.
River Falls Librarian Helen Schmidt explained the County Library avoids
duplication of services, such as WISCAT which the county does for local
libraries. If there were no County Library, a 3/4 to full time staff
person would have to be hired. She questioned what would happen if Town
of Troy withdrew from the county levy; would they support Hudson or
River Falls Library?
Krizek said the current situation shows a total funding of $246,132.
With the withdrawal of Town of Hudson and Village of North Hudson,
subtract payments of $60,948 which leaves $185,184. The County Library
budget is $140,000 which leaves $45,184 left for local libraries. The
budget for 1996 had $106,000 for local libraries.
Returning to the four scenarios, Krizek stated we need to get Town of
Hudson and Village of North Hudson back to the county levy and not lose
other municipalities. We need to provide incentive to retain them.
Farrell noted increased county funding was voted #1 by the Library Study
committee and requested $66,000 additional above the regular budget.
Bradley stated the WI Legislature should address support for libraries.
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Bieraugel asked if there was any support for the Consolidated County
Library and there was no response. Giese commented this would be the
more equitable funding system.
Krizek pointed out in the Direct Funding Formula the county would
collect the taxes and send money back to each municipality. The County
Library would be eliminated. Amy Alpine from IFLS said Books by Mail
would have reduced service such as slower mail and only one catalog per
year sent from Eau Claire vs the three sent by the County Library.
Bieraugel asked what method would be used and how would money be
distributed if collected and directed back to the 10 municipal
libraries.
Lunch break was taken and meeting reconvened at 1:30 p.m.
Loney explained presently each library is given a $5,000 base fee and
the remainder determined by rural circulation percentage. A possible
formula would be freezing the mill rate for the Library Levy but the
increase in equalized valuation would assume $295,014 for allocations to
local libraries but no County Library funding is included.
Bieraugel stated the contracts for service created these circumstances.
If direct funding becomes the best solution, would this affect the Town
of Hudson's decision. Hudson Town Chair Rita Horne replied the
Consolidated Library is the best solution and the Hudson Town Board may
change their mind if direct funding is approved.
Deer Park Librarian Kathy Setter noted this Library Study was referred
to the Finance Committee last August and why did it take so long to be
addressed. The inequity in funding still remains. Setter commented the
Committee is operating under a misunderstanding because many necessary
services are provided by the County Library. Her solution suggestion is
to keep the County Library Services and increase the County Library
budget which is only 1/10 of 1% of the entire county budget.
Brown indicated only six counties in Wisconsin have a county library.
Mary Ellen Brue, President of Baldwin Library Board, believes they are
getting only half the story. How much would be the cost of services
previously provided by the County Library (ex., WISCAT) to the local
libraries?
Bieraugel replied the direct funding would be a stop gap measure and a
plan would be developed to help Libraries in the transition. Barb
Ickler asked on what basis dissolving the County Library would make the
Town of Hudson and Village of North Hudson come back.
Library Director Farrell reported a determination is being made on the
dollar value of services provided by the County Library. Deer Park
would have $20, 000 in extra costs and receive $14, 178 in direct funding.
She offered the solution of retaining the County Library and adding
$50,000 to collection development fund which would be distributed to the
10 libraries. Smaller libraries do not have space or equipment to add
more staff.
O'Connell asked Gardiner Graham for his comments on the proposed
solution. Mr. Graham said the committee is on a spot for a decision but
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he favors scenario #3 (direct funding). Although the County Library
provides lots of service, he encouraged the continued investigation of
solution #3.
In response to questions on services to the Jail and Nursing Home,
Farrell replied books are provided on rotation to Nursing Homes and
activity directors. The Jail Library needs both Library and Jail staff
for these services.
In the summation of the day, Krizek stated the Library Study, Scenarios,
Detailed Analysis and loss of two library levy participants were
addressed. Increased County funding would not be enough to draw Town of
Hudson and Village of North Hudson back in. He recommended doing County
Library services in an alternate fashion. Bieraugel said this is a stop
gap solution. If more communities withdraw, there will be no County
Library or money for the smaller libraries.
Motion by Boche, 2nd by O'Connell to put the Library Study on file.
Carried.
Motion by Bradley, 2nd by Boche 1. That the St. Croix County Board of
Supervisors establish the County Library Service as a direct funding
program to the 10 municipal libraries located in the County and
eliminate the St. Croix County Library. 2. That the mill rate for
library funding be frozen at the 1995 level for 1997 funding. 3. That
the levy distribution formula attached (discussed as option number 3) be
implemented. 4. That an Ad Hoc Committee be appointed by the St. Croix
County Finance Committee Chairman to aid in the transition of the County
Library Service to all residents in St. Croix County. 5. That the St.
Croix County Board respectfully requests that the Town of Hudson and
Village of North Hudson rescind their resolution to exempt themselves
from the County Library levy established in 1996 for 1997 since the
direct funding will be distributed to the municipal libraries by the
County. Bradley commented this is a difficult time for difficult
decisions. Roll call vote: all yes. Motion carried.
Motion by Bradley, 2nd by O'Connell to adjourn. Meeting adjourned at
3:35 p.m.
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Tom O'Connell, Secretary
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