Photos

On my way home from the county complex last week on my usual route, I passed Vanderbilt Public Library. A surprising and unlikely sight caught my eye. A group of demonstrators complete with placards marched in protest of the reduction of hours at that branch. (I half expected to see my wife was among them - she loves that library.)  Over the next few days, I received several emails from constituents requesting more information about why and how this reduction occurred. I gave them the simple answer: The county suffers from a severe revenue shortfall. This shortfall resulted from the property tax amendment that citizens adopted last year coupled with the free fall of property values. The millage rate is down and the valuations on which rates are calculated are down. Unfunded mandates from the State are up. Need has gone up; revenue has gone down. Critical health, safety, and welfare services are under-funded. Every thing had to give.  
 

People understood, but it was clear that many misconceptions are afloat in the community. Given the importance of our library system in people's daily lives, I felt that everyone was entitled to a fuller understanding of what we face and the library provides a perfect microcosm to discuss it.  
 

First a little history is required. Over the past several years, most of the new residential projects in our district (2) and in the district directly south of us (4) consisted of redevelopments of existing properties. These projects have not substantially increased our collective population. By contrast, the population in the eastern area of the Collier County has grown dramatically reaching into areas not anticipated even ten years ago. Concurrency standards set by the State require certain levels of specific and proximal services for the population. These standards encompass public services including libraries. In keeping with these requirements, county government expanded public services to keep pace with growth and to match population distribution. No one had anticipated the rapid growth in the east, especially given failed developments in that area in the past, the most spectacular being the infamous swampland in Florida scheme in eastern Golden Gate. As a result, nearly all public facilities were west of I-75, matching the distribution of our population. And remember, we had fallen behind concurrency requirements even in these areas. The last 6-8 years have required a massive catch-up effort. Impact fees from new development paid for much of it. We were getting close. We had put many pieces in place - with full consideration of the needs created by eastern growth - when external events pulled the financial rug out from under us.  
 

Let us take the library situation as the example. The major county libraries were west of I-75. The other districts and Marco Island were served by small branch libraries only.  The large populations in District 3 and District 1 were particularly under-served. To meet concurrency requirements, we initiated two new main libraries, one in each district. Golden Gate City and South Regional opened close to schedule, unfortunately right at the time the shortfall hit. We budgeted accordingly. Nevertheless, our much reduced 2008-09 library budget could not be met. Revenue was below projections.  
 

The shortfall necessitated relocating a number of our existing staff to the South Regional Library. That repositioning required dropping one day a week at our small branch libraries. Worse news was ahead. Despite careful planning, additional losses in revenues (sales tax, revenue sharing, etc) reached $7.2 million.  All departments were forced to share mid-year budget reductions to meet this shortfall.  Constitutional officers gave up nearly $2.5 million, the lion's share coming from the sheriff at $2.2 million. County agencies under the control of the Commissioners and the County manager, including emergency services, gave up well over $4 million. These latter agencies are working with over 450 unfilled positions created by layoffs and attrition.
 

How did the libraries fare?  The library system lost an additional $271,400 in funding.  In order to accommodate that lost revenue, the smaller branch libraries had to close an additional day per week. The cost saving of closing mid-week for one day was determined to be less beneficial than closing for three days in a row. A Monday-Thursday schedule at the branches was adopted. In addition, evening library hours throughout the system were modified. These reductions produced savings in a number of areas including electrical costs, air conditioning, and staff (via unfilled vacancies). Why was the decision made to close for one more day only at the branches in East Naples, the Estates, and Vanderbilt Beach? The Regional Libraries in these areas are the backbone of our system and our goal is to keep the longer hours at these centrally located facilities so that all library patrons have access to a library. Branch libraries considered too far away from regional libraries for their patrons to drive will be open on Fridays at reduced hours. The headquarters library (Orange Blossom, which fortunately is in our district) is the only facility open on Sundays.  
 

Lack of adequate numbers of personnel for the libraries has necessitated changes in other staff-dependent services. DVDs now check out for one week with no renewals. Refunds for lost books are limited to last two months.  Two renewals are allowed on books, audio books, and music CDs (unless others have the material reserved).  The number of reserves allowed is limited to six. All of the libraries in the system are sharing resources out of fairness to users. The Library Advisory Board, although regretful of the reductions, concurs that the changes are needed to keep the system available overall. Several groups have asked what they can do to assure that their branch libraries stay open. I applaud their efforts and suggest that they set up time to meet with the Library Advisory Board, who are well informed, to insure that any efforts undertaken are viable and can be maintained.

 
Revenue shortfalls next year are anticipated to be worse - perhaps much worse. We have rolled back taxes over the past few years and in the process cut $65-$70 million dollars from the county budget. Additional revenue losses will be devastating. There is nothing left to pare. The situation forces us to prepare the 2010 budget in two scenarios:  One with a 3% reduction from our current 2009 operating budget and one at 25% reduction.  You can imagine the impact on all county departments, including the libraries.  A majority of the County Commissioners will determine which scenario to put into effect. We must choose between adopting a revenue-neutral budget, which brings in roughly the same amount of money as this year, and a millage-neutral budget, which requires the more massive cuts. We will make this decision in June during the budget hearings. The millage will be set in July. Subsequent to July, we can lower the 2009-10 millage, but we cannot increase it. Our decision will affect you and all the government services you are accustomed to receive. Educate yourself. Weigh in.

 
I want to thank you for your active support of our library system.  I encourage you to visit the Headquarters Library on Orange Blossom when our neighborhood branch is not available. 

Only by working together, do we make a difference. Please remember that Sandra Lea, my Aide, can assist you to reach me or schedule time with me if the need arises.   You can reach her at 252-8097.  My phone number is 252-8390; email me at FrankHalas@collliergov.net.

Birgit Pauli-Haack