L.A. County library system in financial trouble; commissioners seek tax increase

  The Los Angeles County library system is in financial trouble and cannot sustain its level of services over the next decade, according to a report delivered Tuesday to the Board of Supervisors.

But the Library Commission’s chief recommendation –- asking voters served by the county library system to increase an existing special tax –- appeared to leave the supervisors unenthusiastic. Supervisors received the report but did not discuss the recommendation.

The report illustrates a darkening financial outlook for nation’s largest public library system, which serves 3.7 million people, including 51 of the 88 cities in L.A. County and most unincorporated communities. Without increasing the special tax, the library system could be forced to make deep cuts in service hours and other programs, such as children’s services, homework help and gang prevention programs.

 “The Library Commission strongly opposes that model because it would have a significant impact on service delivery,” the report said.

The county library system has an annual budget of $109.7 million but faces an annual structural deficit for the next decade of $22 million a year.

The main financial problems are a result of declining contributions from the county’s General Fund and falling property values, which are curtailing tax revenue, according to the report.

The commissioners are calling for a revamp of the special tax levy that was established in 1997 and now charges $27.84 per parcel, regardless of size, every year. The tax currently is charged to most unincorporated areas and 11 of the 51 cities served by the county library system, which receive expanded public service hours over cities that chose not to levy the special tax.

Commissioners recommended that the special tax rate be increased and expanded to include all areas served by the county library system. Doing so could generate an additional $12 million to $23 million every year over the next decade.

The report said polling showed that the library had probable voter support to garner the required two-thirds vote for a special tax.

The report said the library system has taken cost-cutting measures, such as renegotiating contracts with book and software vendors and cutting back on part-time staff. But the financial situation has been hampered by rising costs for books and other technology and equipment, as well as higher costs for personnel.

“Curtailment measures in recent years helped to balance the budget. However, with few alternatives for cost reductions remaining, the Public Library will have to redesign its service models,” the report said.

The report illustrates the gap between revenue and expenses: Between the 1997-98 and 2009-10 fiscal years, the special parcel tax rate increased an average of 2% a year, while the California consumer price index increased an average of 3% a year and library expenses increased an average of 10% a year.

The county library system operates more than 80 libraries and four bookmobiles.

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-- Rong-Gong Lin II at the Los Angeles County Hall of Administration

Comments

[Tornadoes28]

HELL NO do I want another tax. I am sorry the library system is struggling right now but no way should the government impose another tax. No more taxes.

[Russell Smith]

Molina, Yaroslovsky et al are about as likely to increase an existing tax as the Pope is to come out as gay. When budgets need a good slashing, libraries are the first on the cutting board. Our library system serves almost 4 million people and it does a heck of good job. It's too bad that this anti-tax fever has risen again in the face of economic trauma. Some services are more necessary than meets the eye. I hope that Ms. Todd and her friends are ready to see massive cuts in services and in staff. I guess most people don't think our brilliant library system is worth preserving. Watch the parks go next.

[All for it!]

Who cares? People that work at these place are by far the ruddest people ever. We have good enough libraries at school, and schools offer after school programs for homework help and keeping kids out gangs a long with the program at the same time at no cost for the parent.

[countingbeans]

How about this: instead of raising taxes, let's reverse the $22 Million utility and water bill that the City Library Dept is suddenly required to pay back into the City's general operating fund.

Sometime last year, the City Council and our Mayor arbitrarily decided that Libraries and Parks are now required to pay the City back for utilities and water. These are the ONLY two departments required to pay the city back for those services. Now the Library Dept suddenly has an additional $22 Million in expenses to pay for, and no way to pay for them - aside from cutting other expenses to free up money.

What were our Mayor and City Council thinking? The decision to place this burden on the Library Department was passed without a 2nd thought by our City Council, as a way to "find more money" for other City services. This was a back-door way to cut library funding, without actually removing any federally-mandated funding. Libraries don't have a powerful union/lobbying force in City Hall to push back, so nobody bothered to raise an eyebrow.

This is what happens when our City Council glibly follows the path of least resistance.

[LA city employee]

countingbeans, your comments pertain to the CITY of Los Angeles Public Library. The article is about the COUNTY of Los Angeles Public Libraries.

[Teri]

How about getting rid of half of the DWP workers. Some weeks they cant even remember to pick up the trash, then you wait maybe another week. They are paid too much money and my bill is way too large. I think Iam paying for all the low income people that I am sure get a discount. It should be the same price for all citizens and twice as much if you can,t prove you are a citizen. I see so many city workers just driving around by themselves in city trucks. Whats with that.Why do they need their own trucks.What a waste.The library workers are on the internet while working