Comments on: From the Director: Is Your Library’s Funding Safe?

By: Join the conversation: What’s your solution for Michigan’s personal property tax? – The Grand Rapids Press | Michigan News Press | Michigan Breaking News Headlines | Michigan News Directory

Mon, 11 Jun 2012 16:45:40 +0000

[...] RAPIDS, MI – Perhaps you’ve seen a flier about a impact of personal skill taxation on your internal library. Or maybe you’ve review about municipal officials fretting over due changes to a [...]

By: Frank

Frank — Thu, 31 May 2012 21:48:38 +0000

Mr. Werner,

Thank you for your response.

I suggest you talk to your counterpart in Grand Rapids about how to effectively manage a library system since it sounds like you’re doing the right things. All the bad press she generates can only hurt your efforts in the long run.

By: Lance Werner

Lance Werner — Thu, 31 May 2012 20:30:34 +0000

Thank you for taking the time to express your feelings about my blog post. Due to the changing library funding landscape in Michigan, we have had to make budget cuts at KDL and will likely continue to make cuts in the future unless that landscape changes for the better. We have worked hard to trim across all budget lines to protect services for our library users. Thankfully, we have been able to eliminate staffing positions through attrition and have not had to lay off any employee at any level. This summer we will eliminate a senior management position, again through attrition. Since 2010, we have cut over $1 million from our budget and we will likely have to cut more in 2013.

KDL’s training budget is .71%, or less than one percent of our total budget. We believe this money is well spent. We invest in our employees’ education, so they can provide the best service possible for our taxpayers. Business is booming at KDL and we are busier than ever. KDL patrons have high expectations and we make every effort to meet and exceed those expectations.

Even as demand increases for library resources, KDL’s revenues are shrinking. We are not asking for more funding nor are we complaining about falling revenues. We are asking the legislature to reimburse tax funds that support community services (like libraries), which they are intent on taking away. The personal property tax is not a good tax, but the funding it provides KDL and other taxing entities (such as schools, police, and fire) is invaluable and needed more than ever. We are asking for a creative solution that supports both businesses in the state as well as funds necessary community services.

Once again, thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts.

Lance Werner

By: Frank

Frank — Thu, 31 May 2012 19:40:07 +0000

Mr. Werner, In this post you state the following: "I can say with absolute confidence that Michigan’s libraries do not take advantage of voters’ generosity. Libraries in this state saw state aid decrease in 2011 to levels not seen since 1978 – that’s the level of de-funding you think of when organizations say they’ve cut expenses to the bone." Not sure if we're seeing the same things, but have you seen the articles about the outrageous spending at the Grand Rapids library? Executive salaries, insane spending on travel, all while the lowest paid workers either get the boot or have to see their benefits disappear. Let's not forget that the bosses don't change a thing for themselves. What wonderful leadership by example. Now, I'm not familiar with your library, but if you're anything like your counterpart in Grand Rapids it's a slap in the face to your customers to suggest that there's no other way to cut than programs. http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2012/02/grand_rapids_library_budget_pl.html http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2012/04/grand_rapids_library_travel_sp.html