The Lincroft Village Green Association has serious concerns about the actions and decisions of both the Middletown Township Committee and the Middletown Township Library Board of Trustees in matters affecting the Middletown library budget.
The 2013 library budget is projected as a deficit of $477,900 due to a decrease in funding, an excessive increase in township chargebacks, and the depletion of library reserves after a $499,947 transfer was made at the request of the township in 2011.
The likely results of this deficit will be:
· Branch closures (Lincroft, Bayshore, and Navesink)
· Cuts to library services and materials
· Decrease in operating hours at the main branch
· Increase in user fees and fines to increase revenue
· Layoffs of staff
· De-municipalization: Middletown's library system could be turned over to the Monmouth County Library system.
The LVGA recognizes that Middletown residents will be adversely affected if these cuts to services occur. The Free Public Library as an institution is a vital and valued public service which contributes in a meaningful way to the quality of life in our community.
If you value your library, we encourage you to attend the next Middletown Library Board of Trustees meeting on Wednesday, December 19, 2012 at 7:00pm at the Main Branch, 55 New Monmouth Road. Meeting agenda click here The LVGA believes that a public forum should be held without delay to inform the public about the budget crisis and its impact on our residents and students.
Associated Links:
Library Budget FACTS: Understanding the Numbers
Township Library Charge Back For 2012 Budget Year letter (June 7, 2012)
Letter from concerned library advocate regarding chargebacks
Library Meeting Agenda
Quick Links:
LVGA Website
Newsletter & 2013 Membership Drive
6 comments:
First, want to think LVGA for taking the lead in supporting our library and challenging those who want to destroy it.
Second, I don't understand the budget numbers at all. I would love it if someone who does understand them would hold a small, working session to go through the numbers and explain them. How can we make any kind of informed comment or vote if we don't understand the budget situation?
There are links at the bottom of the announcement that will take you to explanations of the numbers. It is a very informative article.
So let me get this straight, the LVGA is going to come out to meetings in SUPPORT of higher taxes?
Because that's what we'd have to be talking about. Every dollar that the Library spends above its statutory budget allotment would have to be from increased property taxes.
I have a better idea. Why not have people who utilize and love the Library donate their own dollars to keep things just as they are and not ask the taxpayers to pay for them?
One thing we can all understand is the raids these last two years on the library funds by these characters we call a township committee and their "newly" appointed library board" because they CAN"T manage or control township expenditures. If the library becomes part of the county system,who are they going to "hold up next"....the school system? They already manipulate those funds.
This whole situation is a DISGRACE !!!
When the town's property tax rolls are affected by the storm damage and the deficits in tax income are greater and allotments by law for the library are less.... then this community will be in deep dodo.
Incompetent characters with no consciences......wonder what the next mode of operande will be ??
The Library is entitled, by law, to retain 20% above what their budget is to keep as a reserve. The Township does not see a need for the Library to operate with a reserve. The Township has almost tripled their surplus over 2011 to $1.5M. Even that is not enough to maintain a cushion from emergencies.
WHEN ARE THE PEOPLE IN THIS TOWNSHIP GOING TO STOP ELECTING INCOMPETENT POLITICAL PUPPETS TO OFFICE ????????
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