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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 06-01-2010 - 7cORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: June 1, 2010 Action Agenda Item No. —7 — C, SUBJECT: Orange County Funding Support for the Town of Chapel Hill Library DEPARTMENT: County Manager PUBLIC HEARING: (Y /N) No ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: Frank Clifton, 245 -2306 Status Report on Funding Support for the Chapel Hill Town Library PURPOSE: To provide the Board with an opportunity to discuss Orange County's funding support for the Town of Chapel Hill Library. BACKGROUND: Over the last few years, the Chapel Hill Town Council has made requests to the Orange County Board of Commissioners to expand the County's financial support for the Town of Chapel Hill Library. These requests have been based on the Town's belief that the County needs to provide additional funding due to use of the library by non - Chapel Hill residents. This funding issue has been discussed at Assembly of Governments meetings, other various meetings of elected officials, and among Town and County Managers and other staff members. County Manager Frank Clifton has provided the attached status report regarding the most recent discussions on this issue. FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with the Board discussing Orange County's funding support for the Town of Chapel Hill Library. The Manager's Recommended FY 2010 -11 Budget includes $250,000 in County funding support to the Town of Chapel Hill to support the Town's library. This is the same amount the County has provided in past years. Should the Board determine an interest in providing funding in excess of the recommended $250,000 for FY 2010 -11, the Board will need to determine a source for this additional funding. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board review the attached status report, discuss Orange County's funding support for the Town of Chapel Hill Library, provide any comments and /or direction to staff, and, if appropriate, consider directing the Chair to send a letter to the Town of Chapel Hill with any Board comments. 2 Status Report Issue: Orange County funding support for the Chapel Hill Town Library Overview: Going back several years the County began allocating funding in support of the Chapel Hill Town Library. Initially the amount was at a $142,834 (1993) and has grown to approximately $250,000 (2009). For FY 2010 -11 the same $250,000 amount is currently contained in the proposed budget. Proposals: As County Manager, I proposed basing future County funding allocations the Chapel Hill Town Library at 50% of what the County spends on its "Main" Hillsborough Branch Library (approximately $500,000 for FY 09). We could increase the funding level by $85,000 per year from the current $250,000 level until reaching the 50% of the main County Library allocation (three budget years) and remain at the 50% level thereafter. Town of Chapel Hill Proposal — Town Board members in a meeting with County Commission members Nelson and Jacobs proposed the County funding 40% of the Town's Library operations. That would currently equate to roughly $1 million annually. They also indicated a willingness to consider $700,000 as a beginning point with agreement to reach the $1 million level within some specific timeframe. 3 Commissioner Nelson proposed a series of scheduled increases in the County's funding level of the Chapel Hill Town Library as follows: FY 10 -11 $2505000 + $ 1000 FY 11 -12 $260,000 + $222,000 FY 12 -13 $482,000 + $220,000 FY 13 -14 $7021,000 + $200,000* *If interoperability benchmarks are met. Commissioner Jacobs suggested an increase of $1,000,000 to both library systems over a four or five year period as an approach that should be considered. These remain the discussed proposals as currently proposed without any other action by either the Town or County as to further consideration. Summation: As the issue now stands, the Town is seeking an expanded funding commitment from the County or it will reject current County funding and begin a program of charging non - residents a fee to use the Town library. As County Commissioners discuss the various aspects associated with meeting the Town's demands I offer issues for consideration: The Town's `upper -end' demand exceeds what the County now spends on its new Main Library. 2. A substantial increase in library funding in either or both systems has a `doubling' impact on the County general fund. County policy allocates roughly 50% to public education of the County's general fund annually. A $1 million increase in library funding creates a $1 million increased allocation for education. 3. Library Services in the Southern portion of Orange County remain a priority to be addressed (capital & operations) at some future date.