Slides from "Funding the Hudson Area Library"
March 12, 2012
Hudson Area Library Fixes Critical Error in Annual Report. (Hudson Patch, 3/21/2012)
Excerpt: "I've talked to some other library heads and they, too, did not realize the impact of that statement," Donaldson said. "At the same time, I'm finding out there really isn't a designated person to regulate that question on the report."
Comment regarding library system oversight: In my 22 years as Director of the Middleton Public Library, the South Central Library System Public Library Consultants (first Shirley May Byrnes, then Cheryl Becker, and now, I imagine, Denise Anton Wright) were extremely thorough -- some of my SCLS colleagues might say ruthless -- in their review of every item that appeared on member libraries' annual reports. We could all expect to make a number of corrections after the initial submission.
Council: Hudson Area Library funding uncertainty continues. (Hudson Star-Observer, 6/7/2012)
Hudson Finance Director tells council members that if nothing is done, i.e., if the City of Hudson doesn't provide a minimum appropriation to the library based on the city's equalized value multiplied by the St. Croix County library tax levy, then the City will be required to pay the library levy.
The method of calculation is shown in this slide.
In other words, in order to qualify for an exemption from the county library tax, the City of Hudson should have appropriated $483,678 to the library in 2012. The actual appropriation is $278,910.
At its September 5, 2012, meeting, the Hudson City Council voted 5-0 to go with Option 1a.
That is, not to provide an increase of $269,007 over the 2012 appropriation.
As noted in the minutes, the County will levy an estimated $277.173.00 to the City taxpayer, and of the increase, only $82,000 would go to our library.
The Hudson Area Library Board of Trustees is on record as recommending option 2 -- reverting to a municipal library.
Stay tuned.
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