Oneida County legislators may write their own chapter when it comes to funding libraries next year. There’s a split among lawmakers on whether to go along with County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr.’s plan to give $250,000 each to Rome’s Jervis and the Utica libraries and $72,416 to the MidYork Library System, but nothing for the other 20 libraries around the county. All 22 libraries and MidYork received county money this year — as has been practice for a number of years. This year’s allocations were half of what they received in 2011.
No sooner had the Board of Legislators’ Ways & Means Committee started its budget review Wednesday than the division over library funding became evident to everyone in the room. Some of the legislators present argued that all 22 libraries deserved county money while others said no county dollars should go to libraries. Still more seemed satisfied with Picente’s plan for 2013.
"I think we ought to readdress, take a look at it," said Legislator William B. Goodman, D-13, Whitesboro, as he held aloft a letter from the Dunham Public Library decrying the cutoff of county funds to Dunham.
Legislator Chad Davis, D-18, Clinton, said many of the libraries slated for zero county dollars next year do not have separate taxes for a revenue stream. He said lawmakers should "take a hard look" at the situation.
Jervis and Utica libraries receive money through a library tax.
Majority Leader George E. Joseph, R-17, Westmoreland, said declining county support for libraries should surprise no one. "The die was cast two years ago where we were headed," he said.
"The bottom line is we can’t afford it," said Legislator Richard A. Flisnik, R-8, Marcy.
Legislator Michael B. Waterman, R-5, Camden, said it was "totally unfair" to fund two libraries and not the others. He said it should be all or none.
Lawmaker Brian D. Miller, R-16, New Hartford, said there ought to be room in Picente’s $371.7 million spending plan to find money for libraries. He said it was a "quality of life" issue.
Legislator Michael J. Clancy, D-12, Verona, said perhaps some of the money slated for the Rome and Utica libraries could be shifted to the other libraries. This view was supported by others.
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Goodman noted that the allocations for Jervis and Utica were $201,460 each this year. He suggested the increased amounts for these two libraries slated for next year — $48,540 each — could be distributed among the other libraries.
Lawmaker Patrick H. Brennan, R-3, Marshall, said it was his recollection from when the 2012 budget was adopted that there would be no money whatsoever for libraries in 2013 in the absence of mandate relief.
"... the economic crisis is still upon us," he said. Brennan noted that while the proposed budget does not call for layoffs like in recent years, the county executive is proposing to defer some retirement costs because of the large property tax burden that would result from paying the entire retirement bill in one year.
"We can’t afford it," he said of library funding. He then said he would offer an amendment to delete funding for the Rome and Utica libraries when it came time to adopt the budget.
Legislators can increase or decrease spending when they adopt a budget. Only increases can be vetoed by the county executive. Legislators will vote on the budget Nov. 14.
Minority Leader Frank D. Tallarino, D-7, Rome, said there needs to be a conversation about "at what level are we going to continue?" Earlier in the discussion he noted that Jervis serves patrons from outside its immediate area and is a resource for other libraries as well.
He recalled that when the county increased library funding substantially in the 1990s, it was viewed by some as temporary.
When Ways & Means held a public hearing on the budget Oct. 9, no objections to any portions of Picente’s plan were voiced. In fact, the only speakers were the directors of the Rome and Utica libraries and the MidYork system and they all supported the allocations proposed by Picente.
