MEDIA CONTACT:
Rebecca Winning
Associate Director, Communications and Public Engagement
303-275-2203
rebecca.winning@jeffcolibrary.org
Jefferson County Public Library Explores 2012 Budget Options
(Lakewood, Colo. - July 22, 2011) Jefferson County Public Library (JCPL) announced today that it has submitted a number of 2012 budget scenarios to the Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners through the County's new zero base budgeting process. The Library Board of Trustees has authorized the Library to submit three separate scenarios, each representing a different revenue level. Projected revenues are based on a range of mill levies, ranging from 3.225 (the mill levy appropriated in 2011) to 3.5 (the voter-authorized maximum).
"The Library's budget outlook is especially challenging this year," said Pam Nissler, Interim Executive Director, JCPL. "Assuming that the projected reduction in assessed property valuations holds true, at a mill levy of 3.225 mills, we'll need to reduce our 2012 operating expense by approximately $1.6 million.
"That's on top of revenue reductions of $2.3 million we've faced over the past two years," Nissler added. "When you factor in increased costs for health benefits and debt expense, we're facing some really hard decisions in 2012."
Nissler went on to explain that the Library has identified about $616,000 of expense reductions it can take without impacting public services. These reductions include:
- Capturing savings from the 2011 installation of automated book sorters;
- Restructuring administrative support services;
- Delaying hiring for vacant positions; and
- Reducing the employee training budget.
Further reductions would require a significant change to the Library's program of service, including closing Libraries on Thursday evenings, closing three of the Library's smaller libraries, including Conifer, Edgewater and Wheat Ridge, and eliminating approximately 16 employee positions.
Nissler explained that Thursday evenings are the Library's slowest night, and that by closing at 5:00 p.m. instead of 9:00 p.m., the Library could save another $215,000. Closing the three smaller libraries and laying off employees and would reduce operating expense by another $800,000. Library patrons who currently use Conifer would be directed to the nearby Evergreen Library, and patrons from Edgewater and Wheat Ridge would be directed to the Arvada, Golden, Belmar and Lakewood Libraries.
"These are heart wrenching scenarios," Nissler admitted. "In making these recommendations, we focused on two things: preserving convenient access to our larger libraries and ensuring the long-term sustainability of JCPL.
"It's important to remember that these are scenarios only; the final Library budget won't be set until December," Nissler added. "We're going to be working very hard with the Board of Library Trustees and the Board of County Commissioners to provide the best level of library service possible within these budget constraints."
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About Jefferson County Public Library
Jefferson County Public Library (JCPL) is the one of the largest public libraries in the state of Colorado. Our mission is to meet the changing needs of our communities by providing information and environments that promote personal growth and community transformation. A JCPL library card is the smartest card in your wallet, giving you access to an online library that operates 24 hours per day, seven days per week, a network of 10 libraries, a Bookmobile, a Traveling Children's Library and an eTrain mobile computer training lab, as well as books, periodicals, CDs and DVDs, audio and eBooks, and computer and Internet resources. For more information contact your local library or visit
www.jeffcolibrary.org.
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