Library cuts operating costs, new buildings go up

Save

Posted: 6:26 PM Jun 11, 2008
Last Updated: 7:49 AM Jun 12, 2008
Reporter: Sarah Platt
Email Address: sarah.platt@wndu.com

21 comments

A | A | A

It's no secret that local governments are facing major budget cuts. The St. Joseph County Public Library is no exception. As we've been reporting, the library has been forced to cut $1.6 million dollars from its budget, each year. But despite the cuts, the library has new branches under construction. It has some residents wondering where that money is coming from?

St. Joseph County's Library Director, Don Napoli, says there's a very sensible answer to all of this. Napoli says the construction is part of a capital improvement budget, it's a separate budget than the library's operating budget. He says the new buildings are part of a long term bond project that's been approved for awhile.

Napoli says the operating budget has taken a hit since property tax revenue has dropped significantly. He says by law the money from each budget (operating and capital improvements) can’t be swapped or traded. Napoli says it's been tough to explain this concept to some library patrons, many are upset over the library being closed on Saturdays during the summer.

But officials say the good news is the new facilities will ensure the library has a good future as things continue to change in technology. “These expansions will actually save us a great deal of operating expenses over the long term,” says Napoli. “A lot of things are going to go electronic, of how we do things in our buildings, including the four city branches that are being designed with new technology.”

“I think it's nice that they're opening the two facilities. We normally go to the Roger B. Francis branch and that's one where they're building a new one. Think it's neat we're building a new library,” says Chris Wilson, a local library patron.

The library director says there could be more budget cuts to come. He says the library could face more than $2 million dollars in cuts instead of the $1.6 million.

Meantime, branch construction will continue. Officials say construction on the German Township and Francis branches is ahead of schedule. Those are set to open next spring. Eventually, there are also plans to add on to the library's main branch in downtown South Bend.

U93 kicks off annual Roofsit campaign to help prevent child abuse

Part of Cleveland Avenue closed in St. Joe

Man hospitalized after motorcycle accident

80-year-old Niles man shot, robbed at home; suspects arrested

Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: j Location: south bend on Aug 4, 2008 at 11:26 AM
renovations, additions, new libraries. can't afford to pay employees and have to cut hours of operation. if the money isn't there to pay employees and hours have to be cut, where is the money coming from for all of the renovations, additions and new libraries? doesn't make sense to me. something is wrong with our local government.........

Posted by: Kim Location: SBN on Aug 4, 2008 at 11:19 AM
Wow, It seems very odd that they can afford to build a new library and add on to many of the existing branches, but they are asking their employees to cut back on hours and opening late on Thursdays and closed on Saturday during the summer months. I just find it very irritating that they say they do not have much money but can make these improvements. We want our children to read and expand their knowledge, but what working parent can take time off of work to take their child to the library and most parents would prefer to take the on a Saturday. I truly find the whole thing appalling.

Posted by: Dave Location: South Bend on Jun 16, 2008 at 10:54 AM
Do any of you people ever really listen to what’s happening in Indiana? The budget cuts are not due to the poor management by the library but are a direct result of HB1001 reforming property taxes. The library isn’t the only one in this mess – all units of government will be affected. Everybody has less to work with these days – but local governments all over the state are losing significant sums of money. And before you go on about government waste, just remember that if a government unit is losing 12% of its revenue, they have to cut somewhere. Yes, the new buildings are built with bond money – just like virtually every other public building in this country. There was sufficient money budgeted for operations until the state legislators cut the budget. Why doesn’t someone congratulate the library for having the foresight to plan ahead for hard times instead of complaining about how bad government is? The library is still one of the best tax bargains in town.

Posted by: Dan Location: South Bend on Jun 12, 2008 at 03:16 PM
New technology that means less staff.

Posted by: Will Location: Mishawaka on Jun 12, 2008 at 01:24 PM
SJCPL is a joke. It is run from a tax rate that is more than TWICE that of the Mishawaka Penn Harris Library system - and the MPHPL is 100x's better - the SJCPL Board should take a page out of the Mish Board's play book - build what you can afford to maintain over the years. Mishawaka/Penn/Harris Tax Payers - this is why we must NEVER let our Library System be merged into the one county-wide library system that is being proposed by Mitch. We will never get the services we have - we will only be paying for the rest of the county to have services will we will be relegated to getting sub-par services. Keep MPHPL its own system!!!!

Posted by: bert Location: elkhart on Jun 12, 2008 at 12:08 PM
if the library board is cutting back on services, where are they going to get the money to run the new branches they are building?

Posted by: Don on Jun 12, 2008 at 11:39 AM
It's funny how they say their cutting operation costs,but the new buildings go up,hmm can't they make due with what they have already. I have to make do with what I have on my budget,but then again I know how to manage my money!

Posted by: Ginger Location: Mishawaka on Jun 12, 2008 at 11:24 AM
Just found out that the Mishawaka Libraries are not part of the St Joe County libraries and that they ARE OPEN on Saturdays! Just a FYI.

Posted by: CityEmployee Location: South Bend on Jun 12, 2008 at 11:18 AM
Once again here in dem-ruled St. Joe County - stupidity trumps common sense.

Posted by: Tim Location: South Bend on Jun 12, 2008 at 09:49 AM
the rule saying they cant move money between the funds was set up by the library board - they can change it! dont build more buildings when you cant keep the doors open on existing ones - that is whats simple!

Posted by: Willie Location: Niles on Jun 12, 2008 at 09:20 AM
Read between the lines. With regard to the capital improvement budget, doesn't "bond project" mean that the money was borrowed and will eventually need to be paid back? Who here is surprised that local government is spending money it doesn't have, to construct buildings they can't afford to operate? Just business as usual in SJC.

Posted by: Fed Up on Jun 12, 2008 at 09:05 AM
Typical Govt. Let's build something we can not afford to staff, maintain and run.

Posted by: tom Location: south bend on Jun 12, 2008 at 08:48 AM
The taxpayers of st joseph county are being taken for a ride,and we are paying the freight.Something is wrong when 75% of the budget goes toward the police the courts and the st joseph county prison.The police all have new squad cars but we have to close the library on saturday?

Posted by: dana on Jun 12, 2008 at 08:46 AM
So they can build the buildings because they have money in the capital fund, but they do not have any money in the operating fund to run them? Could some body at WNDU look into running a story about government waste? Why spend tax money to build when you know that you can not operate the buildings you have, let alone new buildings? This is a good example of government gone wrong. The officials claim that the new technology is why they are building, but if you do not have the money to open the doors or staff the place it does no one any good.

Posted by: Mel Location: South Bend on Jun 12, 2008 at 07:59 AM
To Anon: I was wondering that myself.They close on Sat b/c they can't afford to pay the staff, yet how will they pay staff to run 2 new locations? Doesn't make any sense to me.

Posted by: Dana on Jun 12, 2008 at 06:56 AM
Napoli has been the director for waaaaaaaaaaay too long. The board should give him the boot just like Zimmerman. Napoli has always placed his own personal agenda ahead of what's best for the public. The library is his own private fiefdom. Time for you and your combover to go, Donnie!

Posted by: T Location: SB on Jun 12, 2008 at 12:48 AM
Right... expand the branch on Lombardy Drive so the thuglets from Navarre School can take the joint over after school like they do.

Posted by: Jeff B Location: Mishawaka on Jun 11, 2008 at 09:10 PM
Kind of like having to lay off police and fireman, but letting SoBend Tribune and WSBT move to Mishawaka. And then on top of that giving WNIT (A Non Profit Org. I believe) $1,000,000 for a new fascade to move into the old WSBT building.

Posted by: Barry Location: sb on Jun 11, 2008 at 08:48 PM
WE need to change the law so the library can use the money from the building fund.

Posted by: Anonymous on Jun 11, 2008 at 07:57 PM
Great, they can build the buildings...But where is the money going to come from to buy books, and to have staff in the buildings? Is that not part of 'operating expenses'?

Posted by: Jeff B Location: Mishawaka on Jun 11, 2008 at 07:34 PM
Kinda sounds like FUZZY MATH to me.Come to think abt it isn't that the way all of South Bend and St Joe Co. are run>