Indiana Libraries not alone regarding Public Library Consolidation

I am preparing to meet with State Senators and Representatives regarding my opinion about library consolidation.

It seems that a few of our friends in New York are also gearing up to retain local control of their public libraries. In my research I have found that they have some excellent ideas about inter-library cooperation that deserve serious investigation.

http://www.nassaulibrary.org/baldwin/consolidation.htm

http://www.nassaulibrary.org/pobblog/2007/11/library_consolidation.html

Good article on property taxes from Indiana Business Review

I read the article, though I must admit I'll have to re-read it a few times to understand it. So far, in my opinion, all of the work done on property taxes might just be a wash once the "dust has settled."

Read the article here: http://www.ibrc.indiana.edu/ibr/2008/spring/property-tax-policy-questions-answered.pdf

Normal "SNAFU" for property taxes for Indiana

The South Bend Tribune reported in an article dated April 23, 2008 that tax bills for a majority of Indiana Counties will be delayed due to reassessment and the carry-over from last year. The article reported this will cost Marion County between $30 and $50 million.

At the moment NCPL is on okay financial ground. Just how long this last is anyone's guess. We have yet to receive our approval for our 2008 budgets (we received approval for our 2007 budgets late in 2007). We have enough for our June mortgage payment, but paying the December payment could be dicey. Article is here (archived after 7 days): http://southbendtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080423/NEWS01/762493560

Engrossed version of HB 1001

Found here: http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2008/EH/EH1001.2.html

Contains many references to public libraries in Indiana, but two stand out (document is more than 600+ pages) so far in my reading.

First is the potential for fiscal body review for library budgets. The DLGF can't get to us information for publicizing our budgets by the required time as it is. If we need to lengthen the time required for additional review we will be lucky to have budget approval until two years after the initial budget year. NCPL still hasn't received anything from DLGF about our 2008 budget and it's March 3. For the 2007 budget year we didn't receive anything until after September 12, 2007.

Secondly is the moving of the tax rate for LCPF to within the controlled levy limit.

I view both of these as treacherous for public libraries in Indiana.

Potential Circuit Breaker Tax Credits

Following is a link back to the New Carlisle Public Library's website with information from the Indiana Legislative Services Agency. It is a table noting potential circuit breaker tax credits as of 2/19/08

Senate Fiscal Policy Committee

Meeting with Senator Arnold (D) Indiana Senate District 8

Senator held an informational meeting at the New Carlisle Public Library on Saturday, March 1. Most of the information he relayed pertained to HB 1001 and his reasons for voting against it. Senator arnold re-affirmed his stand on keeping public libraries as they are and not consolidating them into county-wide units. Arnold distributed information to attendees and on the back of one of these handouts was the result of one of the survey questions: "Do you support or oppose allowing countywide library districts to consolidate local libraries?" Per Senator Arnold over 1,000 people responded to the survey and 62% OPPOSED CONSOLIDATING LIBRARIES AND 38% supported consolidation.

Those of us receiving the Legislative Information through the Indiana Library Federation are well aware of the implications of HB 1001 and we are actively attempting to minimize the negative effects that it will have on public library budgets here in Indiana.

Here are two .pdf documents that were handed out during Senator Arnold's meeting.

http://www.ncpl.info/publicity/Session%20highlights%20Feb%2025%20to%2029%202008.pdf

http://www.ncpl.info/publicity/Session%20Preview%20Survey%20Results.pdf

The Economic impact of libraries in Indiana

Link: http://www.incontext.indiana.edu/2007/december/6.html