Library sets 2010-11 budget; eyes expansion
The Fort Myers Beach Library Board of Directors unanimously approved a millage rate of 0.5989 mils the same as 2009-10 and a total budget of $1,888,324 -a reduction of $238,155 from the current year’s operating budget for fiscal year 2010-11 at its final budget hearing Tuesday, Sept. 28.
Beach Library Director Leroy Hommerding, who has been a library administrator for 11 years, presented a few facts before the board allowed public input. In the near future, library officials are hoping to break ground on construction to expand the existing library with a new building worth a proposed amount of $8 million.
“Studies show that tax payer return on investment in Florida public libraries actually yields a return of $8.32 for every dollar that tax payers invest in our public libraries,” said Hommerding. “For the past seven years, we have moved toward the expansion that this community told us was necessary mostly via focus groups and actual use of library. Though we have the economic uncertainty of the past few years, the board and the majority of the community say that now is the time.”
Hommerding mentioned the project had been delayed earlier because banks were not inclined to loan money to government units “with terms that we thought our tax base could live with.” He hopes the construction will begin by the end of the year or the beginning of next year.
“When the opportunity arose for a tax-exempt bond -one that we can pay back without any pre-payment penalties- to give us the last part that we needed in our project, our risk management strategy was to avoid work stoppage for lack of funds, to avoid the possibility of no loan money available again, to avoid the possibility of a higher interest loan or having few options for negotiating a reasonable deal,” the library director said. “We have the funds to build. We’ve paid back one third of the tax-exempt loan that we took out. By the end of this new fiscal year, we will have taken back two-thirds. We have debt service in 2011 and 2012, but after that we have no debt service.”
Although other Beach taxing authorities have raised their existing millage rates for the upcoming fiscal year, the library district has kept their ‘multiplier in the calculation of taxes’ the same and hopes to lower it in the upcoming years.
“Our goal is to keep reducing the millage and to be in a position where we have the facility, the staff and the collection that’s highly responsive to the needs and the expectations in our community,” said Hommerding.
Six library district residents offered their input on the past, current and future state of affairs. Four were in favor of the library directors’ planning for expansion, while two questioned certain facts about the board election process and need for a larger facility.
“What the library board has done is what I hope and expect all the taxing authorities would do. And, that is, look out over a five- or ten-year time horizon to see what the needs are going to be and to plan carefully how to meet those needs and execute that plan in a methodical, logical sort of way and a financially responsible sort of way,” said Pat Smith.
“The (library district) has worked carefully to set up funding over a period of years, saving and bonding on our behalf to finance this project is and has been the best way, I believe, to get it done. I do not begrudge the investment the library district is making in the future of our community. I sat here quietly during the first public hearing as earnest and well-meaning, but misinformed residents spoke out against expansion. You representatives have fought hard for our interests as the project has moved forward. I urge you to move forward with due diligence to make this expansion a reality,” said Charlie Whitehead, who disclosed his wife, Debbie, is a board member.
Jim Stevens, who was a member of the focus group five years ago, questioned the planning for the cost of construction for the new expansion.
“How can you plan how much money you need if you never got any information how much it was going to cost? If you know that building prices are down 25 to 30 percent, you’d be talking in the $6.3 million to $6.8 million (range). Why would we go out and borrow $2 million when you have no idea what this is going to cost?”
He also stated that he heard there has never been an election for the library board in the past 20-25 years, and that he wondered why the directors didn’t hold their meetings and hearings at Town Hall where their gatherings may be televised for public knowledge.
“I have been talking with people who do not have the information that you have to give a good accounting of what is going on,” said Stevens.
Jim Seabury, whose wife, Sallie, is another board member, was next to speak.
“First of all, for those who say they don’t know what’s going on, all of the board meetings are advertised in the newspaper (News-Press) as is required by law. My wife tells me that it is extremely rare for anyone to show up. So, if you don’t know what’s going on, it’s your own fault. This board is duly elected. It is not political. It is advertised that elections are available. You go to the Lee County Clerk of Courts, just like you would if you were running for the city council.
“I cannot think of anything that will enhance property values on this Beach or surrounding area more than a very nice library.”
Peter Reid was skeptical about the timing of the new expansion and the proposed cafeteria in it.
“You people have amassed $8 million, it seems, to build an extension that really isn’t essential at this time. Some clues that it is not essential is that you are going to have a cafe. Why do you need a cafe when there are cafes closing down? Don’t spend this money,” said Reid.
Lee Melsek has seen the different library facilities that have housed books on Estero Island since he moved here as a child in 1950.
“You have done well in your planning, and you did it the way governments should do it and adhere to. You may not know it or not, but you might be facing some attempts at political power plays. But, you should have nothing to be ashamed of. You did it the right way. And, I think you did it with the most confident person, Mr. Hommerding, as your leader. I applaud you for that.”