American Libraries |
||
Site NavigationLeft Sidebar ItemsOnline Features
Follow American Libraries news stories, videos, and blog posts on Twitter.
|
||
Florida Tax Rollback Clips Library Services StatewideBroward County Library officials and decision makers at Nova Southeastern University’s Davie campus have settled a protracted dispute over how much BCL should contribute to the FY2008 operating budget of the joint-use Alvin Sherman Library, Research, and Information Technology Center. NSU has agreed to BCL’s proposal to slash 9%, or $716,000, of the $5.5 million anticipated for this fiscal year in accordance with the 9% cutback forced on the entire library system by the state legislature’s June tax reform mandate. “Almost all public libraries have frozen all vacant positions and some have cut positions,” Florida Library Association Ruth O’Donnell told American Libraries. Summarizing the anecdotal information she has been gathering from librarians since spring on how they would absorb mandated budget cuts, O’Donnell also said that “services such as summer library programs, bookmobiles, books-by-mail, and outreach are getting reduced or cut” as are collections budgets and “a rash of reduction of hours of service.” She added that “new facilities and expansions/renovations are being placed on hold at most library systems in anticipation of further loss of revenue in future years.” That anticipation is partly fueled by a special legislative session that began October 3 to close a $1.1-billion revenue shortfall caused by a slumping housing market. The state senate approved October 5 a 5% hike in college tuition, slashing $500 million from healthcare spending, and reducing public-school support 1.5%. Meanwhile, both houses closed a statutory loophole that permitted Miami to spare programs by overriding the mandated cuts. In preparation for a second special session later this month, lawmakers have also begun weighing further property tax–trimming schemes, the Miami Herald reported October 5. In the second session, legislators will also determine whether to rewrite an invalidated January 29 constitutional-amendment initiative to permanently cut property taxes; the original language was thrown out September 24 by Leon County Circuit Judge Charles Francis for being ambiguous and misleading. Despite the ongoing fiscal uncertainty, O’Donnell said FLA has retained a public relations firm to help plan and implement a campaign “to convince the people of Florida of the value of libraries.” Posted on October 5, 2007. |
Right Sidebar
|
|
