FAYETTEVILLE -- A property tax increase resurfaced as a prominent option in the public library's search for new sources of money during a committee meeting Tuesday.
The library's long-term revenue committee has almost gathered enough information to make its recommendation on sources of money for the facility, members said. The group plans to meet March 10 to put together a firm plan for the library's board to vote on, whether that means spending cuts, fee increases of some kind or a combination.
Revenue Committee
Fayetteville Public Library Long-Term Revenue Committee members
• Janine Parry, committee chairwoman and University of Arkansas professor
• Jack Butt, Fayetteville lawyer
• George Faucette, CEO at Coldwell Banker Harris & Faucette
• Dan Ferritor, former library board president and former university chancellor
• Maylon Rice, library board treasurer
Source: Staff report
Board members raised the possibility of a millage increase when the committee started at the beginning of the year. The panel was formed to handle the looming shortfall between increasing traffic and costs and its relatively flat revenue.
The committee's members have explored other options, such as charging for now-free library cards, raising late fees or cutting hours. The debate continued Tuesday, but with the millage back in the mix.
"If we can't find anything on the expense side, then we go to millage, which we know is a political football," said George Faucette, CEO at Coldwell Banker Harris & Faucette. Voters might want to see cuts as well to show the library is serious with its money, he added. "Seems to me it's a package situation."
Fayetteville property owners pay 1 mill for the library, or about $30 for the owner of a $150,000 home. If the library committee asks for more, it appears likely the amount would be another mill.
Janine Parry, board member and University of Arkansas professor, said she wasn't convinced the library needed to draw financial blood to make its case to the public.
The board put off a raise for the 68 employees and left about $500,000 for material and programs unspent in this year's $4 million budget to bandage the shortfall, and facility upkeep has slowed to save more. Library offerings and programs have continued to go up even with these struggles, she said.
"It's been an upward trajectory in terms of services and programs and the experience overall," she said. "It looks to me the library has been resourceful."
Jack Butt, a Fayetteville lawyer on the committee, pointed out closing Monday and cutting library programs could make up the $500,000 shortfall without asking for more money. But the shortfall is expected to quadruple in the next decade, and a proposed expansion of the library into land to the south looms over the discussion. A lawsuit over the land has put off those plans and is set to begin trial before the committee's next meeting.
"It's the elephant in the room," said Maylon Rice, a board and revenue committee member.
David Johnson, the library's director, has said dealing with the shortfall is the first priority before beginning any expansion.
NW News on 02/25/2015