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County offers to take over city libraryBy MELIA BOWIE, Times Staff Writer © St. Petersburg Times published July 24, 2003
NEW PORT RICHEY - If the city is willing to turn over its library, County Administrator John Gallagher said Pasco County is willing to take it. "Nobody in the city has contacted me," he said Wednesday, but taking over operations of the New Port Richey library would mean the county would be running all the Pasco libraries, with the exception of Zephyrhills. "If they're interested in giving it to the county, then the county is interested in talking to them," Gallagher said. However, it could mean big staff cuts. New Port Richey's library has 27 employees. "I think we only staff at 11," Gallagher said. The county has budgeted $6.9-million on library service this fiscal year and operates seven county branches. It employs 113 people - the bulk of whom, 36, are employed at the system's hub in Hudson. Gallagher envisioned that "New Port Richey would become more of a community library" than a regional site if Pasco assumed operations. City Council member Tom Finn announced last week that he wanted to explore giving the city's library to Pasco County in hopes of helping to defray a $1.2-million budget shortfall the city is facing in its general fund budget next fiscal year. In the past, Pasco County has "volunteered to take over" the library, Gallagher said, but New Port Richey "voters said no." There is little indication that sentiment would change, say city library supporters, who are against the proposal. "Last week when Mr. Finn brought this up, the sound you heard was the thud of jaws hitting the floor," said John Klick, who has served on new Port Richey's library advisory council for three years. "Mr. Finn seems to have the habit of shooting from the hip with a shotgun." Klick said a five-year, $7-million expansion plan for the library is being proposed to meet growing demand. To date, he said, the city facility is well run and a good bargain for patrons but is "bursting at the seams." Grant money has decreased the amount residents pay for a number of programs and services, computer access, meeting rooms and more. "Where's the county going to get the money to pay for it (the library)?" Klick asked. Gallagher said the county has not begun to estimate that because there has been no approach from council members as of yet. New Port Richey is budgeting about $846,000 to operate its library in the 2003-2004 fiscal year. Finn said a turnover could save residents money. However, Klick said via grants and other funding acquired by library director Susan Dillinger, residents already get a good deal paying what he estimates at $33 a year in taxes to fund the service."In my opinion this is the best operating small municipal library that I have ever seen. It's why I decided to buy inside the city. "It's one hell of a bargain," Klick said Tuesday evening at a public workshop before city council members. The idea of a turnover received little response from elected officials. "It's something we've never talked about collectively," said council member Scott Chittum, adding he is not a fan of the idea. "It was kind of thrown out there." But library or no, council members are still faced with how to make up for the upcoming shortfall. On Tuesday, they were split among a number of options, with some council members favoring both streetlight and fire fees to raise revenue. Others opted instead for raising the property tax in lieu of fees. Mayor Frank Parker and Council member Ginny Miller asked to explore a streetlight fee only, along with a small property tax increase and other budget cuts. Parker's plan would raise about $540,000 by increasing the millage rate to 7.5 mills from 6.25 mills. He also expressed the need to cut costs among departments citywide, saying "there are no sacred cows" in the upcoming budget.
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